Delaware Obituary Collection
(Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in Delaware [with many Maryland obits that are associated with Delaware]).
Many obituaries from Dover and Rehoboth Beach.
Funeral services for Louise E. Reed, 88, of Felton, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Melvin Funeral Home, 15522 S. DuPont Highway, Harrington, with the Rev. William H. Miller officiating. Friends may call from 7 until 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the funeral home. Mrs. Reed died Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Reed was born in Harrington, daughter of the late Roy and Margaret Dean Cain.
She was a homemaker and had worked as a seamstress, including 15 years at Playtex Apparel in the girdle and garter department.
Mrs. Reed was a hardworking and loving mother. She enjoyed taking care of her family and was always there for them. She loved to cook; whenever she cooked a meal, she always made enough and left enough in the pot to feed two or three more people in case someone else came through the door.
In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, reading, crocheting, crafts and spoiling her grandchildren. She also enjoyed traveling and whenever someone was going on a trip she would have her bags packed and be ready to go. She also liked to collect salt and peppershakers, pictures, thimbles and little spoons.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Whiteley T. Reed.
She is survived be a son, Charles R. “Buddy” Reed of Felton; two daughters, Janet L. Jones of Bethany Beach and Margaret “Peggy” Govoni of Felton; a brother, James Cain of Harrington; a sister, Maxine Klapp of Harrington; a special friend who was there when “Mom” needed her, Jane Jones; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services for Sylvia-Sue Howes Reid, 69, of Planter’s Run, Dover, were held Saturday, Jan. 31, at Whatcoat United Methodist Church, Camden. Mrs. Reid died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, at her home.
Mrs. Reid was born in Endicott, N.Y., daughter of the late John W. and Marion J. Weaver Keegan.
She was a graduate of the Manchester High School in Manchester, Conn., where she had been a member of the National Honor Society and later graduated from the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing in Connecticut. She attended the University of Maryland for a year and received continuing education credits from the University of Delaware, the University of Maryland, Rutgers University, Hampton College and Federal College.
As a registered nurse from 1956 to 1970, Mrs. Reid held several positions, including supervisor of the Medical/Surgical Unit at Willimantic, Conn., camp nurse at Camp Onas in Newtown, Pa. and as an industrial nurse for the longshoremen in Philadelphia. From 1970 through 1973, her abilities in personnel management and leadership afforded her a career change as she served as manager of Brentano’s of Delaware Division of Aging.
From 1980 until 1982, she served as executive director of the Claymont Community Center and later as program director for the Delaware Mental Health Association, Sussex Chapter. In more recent years she worked as a sales associate with Coldwell Banker People Real E.
In her quiet moments, her artistic ability ranged from flower arranging to antique prints to southwestern art. She was truly a unique woman who had touched the lives of many and will be greatly missed.
Mrs. Reid, an unusually active and talented individual, developed and published a Handbook of Crafts and Recreation for the Homebound and Handicapped Elderly for the State of Delaware. She also published Transition, a guide for the widowed and other single persons. Among her numerous activities, she developed and coordinated training and information sessions at Winterthur and the Delaware Art Museum for senior citizens and had served as a delegate to the World Conference on Mental Health in Washington, D.C. It was through her efforts that the free-tuition policy for senior citizens was adopted at Delaware Technical and Community College.
She is survived by her husband, Samuel L. Reid of Fairfax, Va.; two daughters, Allison R. Howes of Milton and Deborah Howes of Columbia, Md.; two sisters, Wendy Keegan of Manchester, Conn., and Marjorie John of Wheeling, W.Va.; three grandchildren, Paul Smith of Smyrna, Kevin Smith of Georgetown and Maya Gupta of Columbia; and three great-grandchildren, Logan Smith, Eric Smith and Seth Smith, all of Smyrna.
Dissemination of ashes will be at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements were by the Funeral Home of Michael J. Ambruso, Dover.
Louis Anthony Spadaccini
Funeral services for Louis Anthony Spadaccini, 41, of Dover, were held Monday, Feb. 9, in the Calvary Assembly of God Church, Dover. Mr. Spadaccini died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004.
Mr. Spadaccini was born June 1, 1962, in Philadelphia, son of Anthony and Barbara Spadaccini.
He worked for the past four years as an information-technology manager for the Delaware State Lottery.
Mr. Spadaccini’s passions and hobbies included hunting and reading, along with writing beautiful song lyrics and melodies. He also was a gifted pianist and guitarist. He was a loving father to his two children and the best friend, soulmate and beloved husband of Melissa Anne Spadaccini, his wife of 22 years.
Mr. Spadaccini was a member of Calvary Assembly of God Church in Dover and of the Kenton Ruritan Club in Kenton.
In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by a son, Anthony E. Spadaccini of Secane, Pa.; a daughter, Rebecca L. Spadaccini of Dover; two brothers, Gerard and Tony Spadaccini, both of Wilmington; two sisters, Angela Eyre of Landenberg, Pa., and Julia Clemens of Newark.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapels, Dover.
Burial was in Barratt’s Chapel Cemetery, Frederica.
Michael L. Speicher Sr.
Memorial services will be held at a later date for Michael L. Speicher Sr., 44, of Magnolia. Mr. Speicher died from injuries sustained in an accident Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004, in Vero Beach, Fla.
Mr. Speicher was born Dec. 9, 1959, in Milford. He grew up in the Sandtown and Willow Grove area.
He enjoyed all areas of construction work. He last worked for Master Crafters in Dover.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Nyla; and two brothers, Danny and Jacob Daniel.
He is survived by his father and stepmother, Jacob and Doris Speicher of Felton; a son, Michael Jr. of Felton; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Manuel and Sherry Speicher of St. Thomas, Pa., and David and Darlene Speicher of Magnolia, with whom he lived; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Harry Russell Vickers
Services for Harry Russell Vickers, 74, of Dover were held Thursday, Feb. 5, at Community Presbyterian Church, New Castle. Mr. Vickers died Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Vickers worked for the General Motors Corp. in Newark, retiring in 1997 after 40 years of service.
He was a member of the Usher Board at Community Presbyterian Church in New Castle and a member of the Union Lodge 21 PHA Masonic Order.
Mr. Vickers was preceded in death by his parents, Willis E. and Ella Vickers; and two brothers, James and Willis Vickers.
He is survived by his devoted wife of eight years, Helen Vickers; two stepsons, Ronald and William Ewell; four stepdaughters, Rosalyn and Regina Ewell, and Jannese and Janel Green, all of Wilmington; two sisters, Mildred Vickers of Middletown and Pauline Emory of Ellendale; a brother, Ernest Vickers of Federalsburg, Md.; his mother-in-law, Leona Hayes of Philadelphia; a sister-in-law, Bronal Harris of Philadelphia; a brother-in-law, Vernon Hayes of Philadelphia; seven step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.
Burial was in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
Master Sgt. William Walker Jr., USAF (Ret.)
Remembrance services for William Walker Jr., 73, of Dover were held Friday, Feb. 6, at Trader Funeral Home, Dover. Mr. Walker died of complications of cancer, after a long illness, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004, at his home with family present.
Mr. Walker was born May 29, 1930, in Olyphant, Pa., son of the late William Sr. and Mildred Balderson Walker.
A U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korea and Vietnam wars, he retired as a master sergeant after 22 years of service.
Mr. Walker worked with the University of Delaware in the Department of Foreign Language and Literature from 1970 to 1997.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Beverly Spino.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Frances L. Walker of Dover; a son and daughter-in-law, William A. and Helen Sherman Walker of Milford; a daughter and son-in-law, Diana and Eugene Park Jr. of Felton; a brother, James Walker of Reno, Nev.; a sister, Jane Butto of Newton, N.J.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Burial was in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.
Staff Sgt. Theao Thomas ‘Ted’ Yancy, USAF (Ret.)
Memorial services for Theao Thomas “Ted” Yancy, 85, of Dover were held Monday, Feb. 9, in the Torbert Funeral Chapels, Dover. Mr. Yancy died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, in his home.
Mr. Yancy was born Oct. 2, 1918, in Ellsworth, Iowa, son of the late John and Jessie Lakim Yancy.
He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and retired in 1965 as a staff sergeant from the 1607th Civil Engineering Squadron at Dover Air Force Base.
He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Mr. Yancy was a member of the People's United Church of Christ in Dover.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Pauline Yancy, June 26, 2002.
He is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Dennis C. Yancy of White Plains, Md., Martin T. and Nancy Yancy of Garland, Texas, and Kipling T. and Linda Yancy of Dover; and three grandchildren, Colleen Yancy, of Garland, and Jason Clark and Paige Yancy, both of Dover.
Burial was in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
James J. Yates
Funeral services for James J. Yates, 64, of Camden were held Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming. Mr. Yates died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, in the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia.
Mr. Yates was born Feb. 23, 1939, in Turtle Creek, Pa.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1959 to 1963, then worked for the U.S. Postal Service from 1965 to 1977. In 1987, he became the owner of J & L Burner Service, retiring in 1997 due to his health.
A loving husband, father and grandfather, he was an avid baseball fan and big fan of blue grass music. He loved to fish and build birdhouses.
Mr. Yates was a member of Solid Rock Church, Camden-Wyoming Moose Lodge 203, American Legion Post 2 since 1997, and Harmony Lodge 13 since 1998.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Linda Yates; mother and stepfather, Elizabeth and Leroy Stoops of Harmony, Pa.; a daughter and son-in-law, Yvonne and Glen Weber of Oregon; and three sons and two daughters-in-law, Donald and Kim Wood of Magnolia, James Yates of Little Creek, and Norman and Penny Wood of Wyoming.
He also is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Sally Yates of Export, Pa.; eight grandchildren, Julian and Jason Weber, James, Donald and Lindsey Wood, Samantha and Taylor Yates and Whitney Wood; mother- and father-in-law, Edna and Donald Williams of Dover; and a faithful companion, Scooter.
Burial was in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.
Lucy R. Carney
Funeral services for Lucy R. Carney, 88, of Dover were held Friday, Nov. 28, at the Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover. Mrs. Carney died Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003, at Christiana Hospital.
Mrs. Carney was born July 23, 1915, in Dover, to the late Ray Frazier and Norah Morgan Carney.
She was a homemaker who enjoyed decorating her home and working with flowers.
Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, George Carney, in 1995; two sons, Norman “Jake” and Carl “Jimmie” Carney; a son-in-law, Frank Ford; a grandson, David Carney and a granddaughter Audrey Fletcher.
Mrs. Carney is survived by a son, Roger Carney, and his wife, Debbie of Dover; three daughters, Norma Greenage and her husband, Paul of Dover, Phyllis Ford of Dover, Marian “Petee” Petrek and her husband, Julian “Duke” Petrek of Smyrna; a sister, Ethel Mayland of Union, NJ; a daughter-in-law Renie Carney of Clayton; 16 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
Services for James Paul Farrall, 39, of Wyoming were held Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Berry-Short Funeral Home, Felton. Mr. Farrall died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Mr. Farrall was born in Wilmington, son of James and Leota Wooster Farrall of Wyoming.
He worked as a carpenter in the housing industry. He previously worked for Quality Exteriors and for Mark Faulkner Construction and was a member of Local Union 42, Asbestos Workers. He was an excellent woodworker and cabinetmaker.
Mr. Farrall enjoyed fishing, crabbing and his artwork.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his maternal grandmother, Virginia Wooster of Dover; paternal grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Farrall of Dover; a sister and brother-in-law, Pam and Rodney Altemus of Harrington; a niece, Amanda Altemus; a nephew, Steven Altemus; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Burial was in Barratt’s Chapel Cemetery, near Frederica.
