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 Fred L. Duncan, 79, of Magnolia were held Sunday, March 6, at the Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming. Mr. Duncan Died Thursday, March 3, 2005, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Duncan was born Feb. 19, 1926, in Walden’s Creek, Ky., son of the late Doc and Lily Duncan.
He had worked in the Highsplint, Ky. coal mines before moving to Alexandria, Va., where he worked for the Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. He also worked part time for Securitas at the Blue Hen Mall, Dover.
After retiring, Mr. Duncan moved to Magnolia, where he served the town for more than 30 years as mayor, vice mayor, councilman and water superintendent.
Mr. Duncan was a friend to everyone he met. He always was ready to help anyone in need.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda; three brothers; and three sisters.
Mr. Duncan is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Alta Mae Duncan; a son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Carol Duncan of Dover, and two daughters and their husbands, Cathy and Patrick Kildea of Upper Darby, Pa. and Jennifer and Michael Gondolfo of Glen Mills, Pa.
He also is survived by a brother, Tess Duncan of Lake City, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, Kelly and her husband, Jeremiah Kelley, Elizabeth Collins and Katie Collins, Alex Gondolfo, Zak Gondolfo, Max Gondolfo, Sophia Gondolfo and Isabella Gondolfo; and a great-grandson Hayden Kelley.
Interment was in the National Memorial Park, Falls Church, Va.,
Wayne F. Ehlers
A memorial service for Wayne F. Ehlers, 55, of Magnolia was held Thursday, March 3, at the Smyrna Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Smyrna. Mr. Ehlers died of a massive stroke Tuesday, March 1, 2005, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Ehlers was born March 3, 1949, in Harvey, Ill., son of the late Lloyd H. and Jean H. Rolles Ehlers.
He married his high school sweetheart, W. Carol Ellis, June 15, 1968, in Lanham, Md. They retired to Delaware in May 2004.
Mr. Ehlers was an avid Washington Redskins fan and enjoyed playing golf and watching his favorite NASCAR driver, Bobby Labonte. He most enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and family, and volunteering at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Ehlers was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Ann Bonderman; and a sister-in-law, Judy Ehlers.
In addition to his wife, W. Carol Ehlers of Magnolia, Mr. Ehlers is survived by a son, David Wayne Ehlers of Magnolia; a daughter and son-in-law, W. Kelly Ehlers and Robert Palmer of Millington, Md.; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Paul Ehlers, Richard and Carey Ehlers and Roger and Toni Ehlers, all of Valparaiso, Ind., and Clayton and Donna Ehlers of Fredericksburg, Va.; and two sisters and their husbands, Pat and Louie Werner and Marcella and Tom Thompson, all of Valparaiso, Ind.
He also is survived by four grandchildren, Daniel Wayne Ehlers Palmer of Church Hill, Md., David Owen Ehlers Palmer, currently serving in the Idaho Pocatello Mission, Robert Lloyd Alexander Palmer and Kimberly Rebecca Palmer, both of Millington, Md.; their goddaughter, Kristin Michelle Ehlers Moon; a special niece, Jennifer Wynkoop of Sterling, Va., who held a special place in his heart; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapels, Dover.
Hartley S. ‘Bear’ Gray
Hartley S. “Bear” Gray, 55, of Hartly died Monday March 7, 2005, in Capitol Health Care Center, Dover.
Mr. Gray was born March 13, 1949, in Chester, Pa., son of the late Hartley and Louise Long Gray.
He worked as an aide at the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna and later for Memorial Hospital at Easton in Easton, Md.
Mr. Gray enjoyed being around people, listening to music, fishing and wrestling.
He is survived by his wife, Betty “Peaches” Saffield Gray; a son, Paul H. Gray; a daughter, Debbie Gray of Kenton; two sisters, Patricia Barwick of Smyrna and Sandra Willey of Greenwood; and two brothers, James Gray of Eastville, Va., and Joseph Gray of Dover.
Services and burial will be private.
Arrangements were by Faries Funeral Directors Inc., Smyrna.
Gladys Marie Hannabass
Memorial services for Gladys Marie Hannabass, 73, of Dover were held Saturday, March 5, in the Funeral Home of Michael J. Ambruso, Dover. Ms. Hannabass died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, in her home.
Ms. Hannabass was born in Roanoke, Va., daughter of the late Lawrence F. and Della Ferguson Hannabass.
She had been a longtime resident of Maryland, where she worked as a clerk in the business office of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co. until her retirement. She moved to Dover approximately three years ago.
Mrs. Hannabass is survived by a sister, Virginia Vier of Roanoke; two brothers, Warren Hannabass of Florida and Harold Lee Hannabass of New Mexico; and two cousins with whom she grew up, Lorene H. Sherman of Barnegat, N.J. and Jeannine Gregory of Laytonsville, Md.
Funeral services for Joseph A. Hogan Jr., 63, of Magnolia were held Thursday, March 3, in Dover Air Force Base Chapel 2, Dover. Mr. Hogan died of complications of a stroke Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, in McLeod Regional Medical Center in South Carolina.
Mr. Hogan was born July 29, 1941, in Springfield, Mass., son of the late Joseph and Corene Hogan.
He was a graduate of Cathedral High School and St. Michael's University in Winooski, Vt. He also received an M.B.A. from the University of Central Michigan in 1978.
Mr. Hogan was a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired in the grade of major after 20 years of service to his country. He then worked as a U.S. government civilian at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y., and at Dover AFB.
Mr. Hogan’s hobbies included computers, camping, travel and gardening.
He is survived by his wife, Ellen I. Hogan; a son, Maj. Timothy J. Hogan of Ramstein Air Base, Germany; a daughter, Debra L. Kurzhals of Pearl River, N.Y.; and five grandchildren, Brock Hogan, Mitchell Hogan, Meredith Hogan, Jake Kurzhals and Kayla Kurzhals.
Arrangements were by Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming.
Interment with full military honors was in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.
Jean Clifton Holleger
Funeral services for Jean Clifton Holleger, 70, of Frederica were held Tuesday, March 8, in Berry-Short Funeral Home, Milford. Mrs. Holleger died Thursday, March 3, 2005, in Country Rest Home, Greenwood.
Mrs. Holleger was born Jan. 31, 1935, in Harbeson, daughter of the late Howard and Delberta Pettyjohn Clifton.
She lived in Frederica most of her life. She was a homemaker, and in her earlier years had worked for the DuPont Co., in a bank and, most recently, as a dietary aide in a nursing home.
She enjoyed baking, cooking and gardening and liked to travel and go camping.
Mrs. Holleger was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Frederica, and the Senior Center in Frederica, and had been a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Frederica Volunteer Fire Co.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Holleger, in January 2005.
She is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Janice and Ken Weiss of Milford and Karen and Rick Sharp of Milton; two sons and their wives, Craig and Debbie Holleger of Lincoln and Richard and Judy Holleger of Harrington; seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Holleger, Brian Holleger, Keith Holleger, Heather Holleger, Heidi Holleger, Jennifer Sharp and Nicole Sharp; and three great-grandchildren.
Interment was in Henlopen Memorial Park, near Milton.
Elaine Davenport Adrience Hutchinson
Funeral services for Elaine Davenport Adrience Hutchinson, 87, of Highfield, The Masonic Home of Delaware in Wilmington, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 11, at the Trader Funeral Home, 12 Lotus St., Dover, where friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to the service. Mrs. Hutchinson died Tuesday, March 8, 2005, in the Masonic Home.
Mrs. Hutchinson was born April 17, 1918, in Cohoes, N.Y., daughter of the late Charles and Leila Davenport Adrience.
She married Joseph Earl Hutchinson Aug. 21, 1943. The couple lived in upstate New York until moving to Dover with General Foods in 1964. They retired to Palmetto, Fla., in 1985 and returned to the Dover area in 1997. The couple had lived in the Masonic Home since 2003.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Hutchinson worked as a claims manager for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Delaware and later as an office manager for Drs. Neese, Jarrell and Benson.
Her true love in life was music, which was the legacy she left to her family. In addition to playing the organ and directing choirs in several churches in New York, Florida and Delaware, Mrs. Hutchinson gave piano lessons to more than 50 students per week in Leroy, N.Y. She was a devout Christian who gladly used her gifts to help others worship.
In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by her four daughters and their husbands, Nancy and John Landino of Payson, Ariz., Norma and Daniel Gill of Memphis, Tenn., Jane and Douglas Grudzina of Dover, and Kay Ann and Dean Hampson of Middletown.
Mrs. Hutchinson also is survived by 10 grandchildren and a grandson-in-law, Aimee and John Stiles of Hanover, Pa., Rebecca and Amanda Grudzina of Dover, and Daniel, Mary, Joyce, Esther, Isaac, David and Sharon Hampson, all of Middletown; four step-granddaughters and their families; four great-grandchildren; a special brother- and sister-in-law, Robert and Doris Hutchinson of Dover; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Highfield, the Masonic Home of Delaware, 4800 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807.
Alice Dorothy James, 90, of Dover died Wednesday, March 2, 2005, in Silver Lake Nursing Home in Dover.
Mrs. James was born April 23, 1914, in Chicago, daughter of the late Charles Hill and Isabel Francis Oglesby Lawrence.
She was homemaker while living in Dover.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Percy W. James, in 1985; and a daughter, Margaret Ann Taylor of St. Augustine, Fla., in 2003.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Pete Jepson of Stevensville, Md.
Services will be private.
Arrangements were by Trader Funeral Home Inc., Dover.
