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.
Graveside services were held recently for Charles Bramble Campbell, 96, of Chestertown, at Galena Cemetery, Galena, Md. Mr. Campbell died Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, at Chester River Hospital Center, Chestertown.
Mr. Campbell was born Jan. 13, 1908 in Locust Grove, son of the late Charles A. and Elsie Bramble Campbell.
He raised his family of six daughters in Still Pond, where he worked at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and owned and operated Campbell’s General Store and Garage.
Mr. Campbell was a charter member of the Betterton Volunteer Fire Co. with 60 years of service.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Ivy Plant Campbell, in 1983; a daughter, Anna May Schaeffler; and a grandson, Thomas Atwell Mench Jr.
He is survived by five daughters, Rose Marie Thomas of Chesapeake City, Violet Jennet George of Chestertown, Ivy Esther Minner of Dover, Lillie Dian Durham of Harrington and Holly Elaine Wiltbank of Jasper, Ind.; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and a step-great-grandson.
Pallbearers were Herbert and Joseph Lusby, Charles Wiltbank, Leroy Thomas, Frank Newsome Jr. and Al Rice.
Arrangements were by Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, Galena.
Grace L. Coffey
A memorial Mass for Grace L. Coffey, 73, of Dover was held Friday, Jan. 30, at Holy Cross Church, Dover. Mrs. Coffey died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mrs. Coffey was born Sept. 2, 1930, in New York City, daughter of the late William and Helen Davies Leggett. She had been a longtime resident of Silver Lake Care Center.
She was the director of financial aid for the College of Santa Fe, N.M. She retired in 1988 after 26 years of service.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George, in 1977.
She is survived by two sons, Brian Neil Coffey and Kevin Sean Coffey; a daughter-in-law, Norma G. “Brandy” Coffey; a grandson, Stephen George Coffey; and her extended family, Joyce Breasure, Linda Goosnight, Lynn Taylor; special nurses Jen Elliot, Susan MacIntire and all the staff at Silver Lake Center.
Thomas J. Corder
Services for Thomas J. Corder, 81, of Hartly were held Thursday, Feb. 5, at Short Funeral Services, Georgetown. Mr. Corder died Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at Silver Lake Center, Dover.
Mr. Corder was born in Sioux City, Iowa, son of the late William and Muriel Collison Corder.
He served in the Merchant Marine during World War II.
Mr. Corder was a hotel manager.
He was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling.
Mr. Corder was a member of the Modern Maturity Center, Dover.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Christopher Miles.
He is survived by three daughters, Deborah Ingraham of Florida, Lisa Hopkins of Greenwood and Melissa Berner of Georgetown; a son, Jody Miles of Baltimore; and 10 grandchildren.
Burial was private.
Frank H. Fricker Jr.
Services for Frank H. Fricker Jr., 78, of Frederica will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave., Milford, where friends may call two hours earlier. Mr. Fricker died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004, at his home with his family.
Mr. Fricker was born Feb. 15, 1925, in Upper Penn’s Neck Township, N.J., son of the late Frank H. and Maggie Hudson Fricker.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Mr. Fricker worked for the Chrysler Corporation in Newark as a chief engineer for 24 years, retiring in 1975.
He enjoyed woodworking and had a passion for helping others whenever he could.
Mr. Fricker was a member and past master of the Solomon Lodge 36 in Newark, a member and past president of the Newark Lions Club, a member of the Frederica Adult Center and the AARP.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, June Marie Fricker; a son and daughter-in-law, Frank H. III and Pam Fricker of Frederica; a daughter and son-in-law, Dana-Jeanne and John Morrow Jr. of West Chester, Pa.; and five grandchildren, Kelly Conlon, Patti Jo Morrow, Jay Morrow, Kimberly Fricker and Daniel Fricker.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Sunshine Foundation, c/o Adele Cieslewicz, 12 Brandywine Road, Milford, DE, 19963.
Burial will be in Barratt’s Chapel Cemetery, Frederica.
John Abraham Gingerich
Services for John Abraham Gingerich, 52, of Felton were held Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Central Mennonite Church, Dover. Mr. Gingerich died of natural causes Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, at Bay-health-Milford Hospital, Milford.
Mr. Gingerich was born May 9, 1951, in Dover, son of Sarah Yoder Gingerich of Dover and the late Amos Gingerich.
He attended Dover High School.
He enjoyed reading and horses.
Mr. Gingerich was a member of Central Mennonite Church in Dover.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1980.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by four brothers, Raymond, Willis and Timothy Gingerich, all of Dover, and Amos Gingerich of Anchorage, Alaska; two sisters, Leila King of Dalton, Pa., and Elsie Gingerich of Dover; 21 nieces and nephews; and his numerous friends at Felton Residential.
Services for Margaret Wallace Godwin, 78, of Dover were held Friday, Feb. 6, at Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, Galena, Md. Mrs. Godwin died Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at Casey Hospice Home, Rockville, Md.
Mrs. Godwin was born March 7, 1925, in Millington, Md., daughter of the late Clarence and Bertha Dixon Wallace. She had lived in Millington and Marydel before moving to Dover in 1966.
She worked for Playtex for 43 years holding numerous positions, retiring in 1990.
She was named the 2000 Volunteer of the Year for the state of Delaware in recognition of her service to numerous agencies, including the Delaware State Police, the Department of Agriculture and the school system.
Mrs. Godwin was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Dover.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Baker in 1968.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Dale and Doug Huffman of Gaithersburg, Md.; a grandson, Julian Douglas Huffman and his wife, Shennel, of Arlington, Va.; three brothers, Paul Wallace of Millington, Jesse Wallace of Pace, Fla. and John “Jack” Wallace of Augusta, Ga.; and two sisters, Virginia Fleetwood of Millington and Dorothy Littleton of Dover.
Funeral services for Hazel Frear Grace, 85, of Dover were held Monday, Feb. 9 at the Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming, with the Rev. Jim Walz officiating. Mrs. Grace died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mrs. Grace was born Aug. 9, 1918, in Dover, daughter of the late Simeon and Lenora Hopkins Crook.
She was a graduate of Caesar Rodney High School, class of 1937.
At the outbreak of World War II, she worked at the defense plant in Elkton, Md., and later owned and operated a grocery store business in Rising Sun. She spent her later years as a wife and homemaker and enjoyed life with family and friends.
In 1991, she became interested and involved in the beginnings of the Westminster Village and became one of its first residents. She loved to garden, and especially loved to grow tomatoes. At Westminster she would often attend
To more than 50 tomato plants, sharing the fruits of her labor with the kitchen, neighbors, and friends. She was recognizable to her Westminster family by pulling her red wagon while delivering the fruits of her work in her garden.
Mrs. Grace was a member of Whatcoat United Methodist Church, Camden.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Grace, on June 15, 1983.
She is survived by two cousins, Christine Hopkins of Dover and Charles Maxfield Webb of Portland, Ore.; and five nephews and their wives; Bill and Sandy Rhodes of Camden, Raymond and Jeanne Moore of Dover, Alvin and Margaret Wallace of Hartly and George and Ann Wallace of Newark and Eugene Grace of Hartly.
She also is survived by eight nieces and their husbands, Joyce and Louis Oliphant of Dover, Carolyn Rhodes of Dover, Phyllis and Bradley Steele of Hartly, Emily and Gary Menden of Frederica, Elaine Buffington of Springfield, Ohio, Loretta and Clyde Siebert of Lewes, Diana Smith of Viola, Doris and Dale Creg of Dexter, Mo.; and her godchild, Gail Patrick of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Private graveside services for Evalyne A. Rogers Hill, 83, of Dover, are scheduled for a future date. Mrs. Hill died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, in Courtland Manor Nursing Home, Dover.
Mrs. Hill was born June 28, 1920, in Tennessee, daughter of the late Raliegh C. and Lottie DeMarzzio Rogers.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Hill was preceded in death by her husband, Harold C. "Red" Hill, in March 1995.
She is survived by two sons; Harold "Steve" Hill of Sheboygan, Wis., and Jerry L. Hill of Dover; a daughter, Sandra Fleming of Wyoming; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapels, Dover.
Alfred Wesley Johnson
Celebration of life services for Alfred Wesley Johnson were held Monday, Feb. 9, at the Mount Zion AME Church, Dover. Mr. Johnson died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Johnson was born Nov. 26, 1918, son of the late Samuel and Madeline Johnson.
He received his elementary education at the Booker T. Washington School in Dover and his secondary education at Delaware State College High School. Upon completing his high school education, he enrolled in the college division of Delaware State College (now University) where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1949. He furthered his education by doing extended studies at the University of Delaware and Columbia University in New York.
During his college years, he was also called to serve his country. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving 3½ years and as a member of the reserves for three years. He received numerous citations and decorations, including the American Service Medal, Asiatic and Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
In 1950, he was hired by the Capital School District in Dover. He remained in the Capital School District at Central middle and William Henry middle schools as a science teacher until his retirement in 1981. He touched the lives of several generations of children while serving as a teacher in the district. He will be remembered as a good friend and mentor.
He was known as a good neighbor, true friend and a good listener. He always gave sound advice whenever needed. He was always a gentleman who loved his family and friends. His family is grateful to God for his rich and long life and they rejoice in his promise to make a place for him in his kingdom.
Mr. Johnson was a member of the Mount Zion AME Church and served on the Trustee Board for more than 50 years. He was honored and made Trustee Emeritus of the church in 1997. He loved his church and was proud to serve on the Building Committee and other organizational activities.
He was a life member of the Delaware State University Alumni Association. He was a member of many educational organizations including the NEA, DSEA Retired and the Delaware Retired School Personnel Association. He served as a scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop No. 110 in Dover for many years. He was also a member of the Omega Si Phi Inc. Fraternity, Psi Iota Chapter.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Samuel Jr., Elmer, William, Herbert and Wilkie Johnson, and a sister, Ella Elizabeth Clark.
He is survived by a loving and devoted wife, Gladys Mae; and five nieces and their husbands, Beverly and Preston King of Philadelphia, Debra and Artura Rose of Philadelphia, Sandra Clark of Magnolia, Sheila Johnson of Ellendale, Constance and Ernest Dickerson of Dover.
Mr. Johnson also is survived by a loyal and devoted cousin and his wife, Stanton and Elaner Brown of Felton; two goddaughters, Audrey Hovington of Dover and Kristin Brown of Felton; a sister-in-law, Bernice Johnson of Ellendale; an extended family, Adell and Alvora Wright of Camden; and a host of great nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Arrangements were by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.
Burial was in Sharon Hill Memorial Park, Dover.
Roderick R. Johnston Sr.
Memorial services for Roderick R. Johnston Sr., 81, of Frederica were held Tuesday, Feb. 10, in Rogers Funeral Home, Milford. Mr. Johnston died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, in Milford Center, Milford.
Mr. Johnston was born June 20, 1922, in Littleton, Mass., son of the late George B. and Mary Spooner Johnston.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II.
He was employed for 20 years as manager of the Delaware Trust Company in Frederica. After retiring in 1971, he became general manager of C.L. Burchenal Oil Co. in Wyoming, retiring in the fall of 1988. He was also a self-employed accountant for many years.
Mr. Johnston was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Frederica. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Adams Simpler Ware 6009 in Felton; a life member of the Frederica Volunteer Fire Co., where he was twice an assistant chief, and a member of the Frederica Senior Center and the AARP.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Johnston was preceded in death by his wife, Mary S. Johnston, in 2000.
He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Roderick R. Jr. and Connie A. Johnston of Magnolia; two grandsons and a granddaughter-in-law, Ronald E. and Dawn Johnston, and Thomas Slaton; a granddaughter, Teresa Tracey; and seven great-grandchildren.
