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 Lillian Cooper, 58, of Dover, formerly of Queens, N.Y., will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, in the Bennie Smith Funeral Home, 717 W. Division St., Dover, where friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Mrs. Cooper died Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mrs. Cooper was born Dec. 11, 1946, in Brooklyn, N.Y., daughter of Frances Smith Maule and the late Robert Smith. She was one of four children.
She attended United Business Institute and was employed at Jamaica Hospital.
She loved life, was very family oriented and loved the camera. One of her passions was traveling with her husband. She loved helping people and many will remember the beautiful smile she radiated while greeting churchgoers.
Mrs. Cooper was an active member of Calvary Assembly of God and volunteered at many church activities.
In addition to her mother, Mrs. Cooper is survived by her husband, Stanley Cooper; a daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and William Troy; a son and daughter-in-law, Jermaine and O’Shell Cooper; two stepsons, Gary Cooper and Timothy Cooper; a granddaughter, Brittaney Cotton; two brothers, Robert Smith and Russell Smith; a sister, Helen Smith; a very special cousin, Barbara Cook; and a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Barbara W. Betts Donovan
Funeral services for Barbara W. Betts Donovan, 76, of Dover, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, in the Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call two hours earlier. Mrs. Donovan died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005, in the Milford Center.
Mrs. Donovan was born in Georgetown, daughter of the late Granville and Mary Elizabeth Betts.
She was a homemaker.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, Ernest Donovan, in 1988; two sons, Ernest J. Donovan Jr. and Ernest J. Donovan III; three brothers, Granville Betts Jr., Robert Betts, and William Betts; and a sister, Mildred Betts.
Mrs. Donovan is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Carol Ann and Casey Lunn of Springfield, Va. and Deborah L. Ward of Georgetown; and two grandchildren, Allen Lunn stationed in California with the Navy and Barbara June Lunn of Virginia Beach; a sister, Ann Webb of Milford; a sister-in-law, Cathey Betts of Georgetown; and a host of nieces, nephews and additional family.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Disabled American Veterans, Attn. Gift Processing Department, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.
Joseph W. Gambrill
Funeral services for Joseph W. Gambrill, 61, of Dover, were held Friday, Dec. 2, in Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton, Md. Mr. Gambrill died Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005, in CentraState Medical Center, Freehold, N.J.
Mr. Gambrill was born March 12, 1944, in Easton, Md., son of the late Olen W. and Florence Councell Gambrill.
After graduating from Easton High School in 1962, he received his associate in arts degree in accounting and business administration from Goldey Beacom Junior College, Wilmington, graduating in 1964. He also completed the Talus CPA Coaching Course in Philadelphia.
Mr. Gambrill was a certified public accountant for O’Kane Hunt & Co., Cover & Co. and Granger, Faw & Co., which later became Faw, Casson & Co. He started a private practice as a CPA in Dover in 1975 in which he specialized in tax planning and compliance. In 1998 he retired to enjoy his grandchildren and antiquing.
Mr. Gambrill served on the Board of Directors of the JC Penney National Bank, and was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Delaware Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Colonial Rotary Club of Dover and the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, John W. Gambrill, on Nov. 1, 1986; and a brother, James Councell Gambrill.
Mr. Gambrill is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Joanna G. and Frank Corso Jr. of Millstone Township, N.J.; a brother, William O. Gambrill of Easton; and three grandchildren, Matthew Corso, Amanda Corso and Kathryn Corso.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Gambrill’s name may be made to the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, 4701 Ogleton-Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19713.
Bernice V. Hyler
Funeral services for Bernice V. Hyler, 74, of Magnolia, will be held at noon Thursday, Dec. 8, in Lofland Funeral Home, 102 Lakeview Avenue, Milford where friends may call from after 11 a.m. Mrs. Hyler died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005, at Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Hyler was born Aug. 10, 1931, the daughter of the late Nelson Wesley and Viola Vadican Abbott.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Hyler was a very devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, also finding time to care for her extended family as well. She enjoyed reupholstering, painting and refinishing furniture. Mrs. Hyler was remarkable with electrical repairs. She enjoyed reading, sewing, doing jigsaw puzzles and especially getting together with her friends.
She was a former member of the Ellendale Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary.
Mrs. Hyler was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years Oliver K. “Jimmy” Hyler in 2001.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law J. Mark and Linda M. Hyler of Magnolia; two daughters and their husbands, Debra L. and David Moore of Magnolia and Sharon Ann and Trace Burris of Middletown; a sister, Kathleen Walton of Ellendale; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association, 600 North Dupont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947.
Sophia Elizabeth Johnson
Sophia Elizabeth Johnson of Dover died as a newborn Nov. 28, 2005, in Dover.
Sophia was the daughter of Kirk and Michele Wilson Johnson of Dover.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Walter and Marcia Clark and Billy Joe Johnson.
In addition to her parents, Sophia is survived by a brother and sister, Cannon Giglio and Olivia Giglio, both of Dover; her grandmother, Sharon Johnson of Detroit; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Memorial services were private.
Memorial contributions in Sophia’s name may be made to the Kent County Community School, 65-1 Carver Road, Dover, DE 19904.
Frances Merle Kelly Leahy
Funeral services for Frances Merle Kelly Leahy, 81, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9, in St. Paul’s Church, Norwich, N.Y. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, in R.J. Fahy’s Funeral Home, 116 N. Broad St., Norwich. Mrs. Leahy died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, in the home of her son and daughter-in-law.
Mrs. Leahy was born April 4, 1924, in Norwich, daughter of the late John P. and Lucinda Kelly.
She graduated from Norwich High School in 1942 and in April 1946 married Ed Leahy of Yonkers, N.Y. After a short stay in Yonkers, they moved back to Norwich and started a family.
In 1983, she moved to Tucson Ariz., and then to Philadelphia a few years later. In 1988, she and her husband moved back to Norwich and then in 2002, moved to Dover to be closer to their children.
Mrs. Leahy’s proudest achievement was her family and there was no better example of a supportive and loving mother and wife. Her faith in the face of death was most reassuring and an example to her children.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, whom she greatly missed, on April 11, 2005.
Mrs. Leahy is survived by four children and their spouses, Jack and Georgie Leahy of Virginia, Dennis “Denny” and Lisa Leahy of San Antonio, Texas, Brian and Peggy Leahy of Hartly and Mary Ann and Patrick McKenna of Dover; six grandchildren, Neal Leahy, Christine Fondern, Joey Coleman, Patrick Leahy, Vincent Leahy and Kelly McKenna; a great-granddaughter, Kylie Leahy; and a brother and sister-in-law, John and Tink Kelly of Norwich.
The family suggests contributions to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover DE 19901.
Bessie Jane Loper
Funeral services for Bessie Jane Loper, 95, of Dover, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Mt. Zion AME Church, Dover, where friends may call one-hour prior. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Hubert AME Church in Frederica. Mrs. Loper died Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, at Westminster Health Center, Dover.
Ms. Loper was born March 12, 1920, daughter of the late Harry and Julia White in Frederica.
She attended public school at Union, Booker T. Washington and Delaware State College. She joined Hubert AME Church in 1938 and remained a faithful member, serving as a choir member and a faithful stewardess until her illness.
Ms. Loper was active in her missionary duties by visiting the sick in their homes and the hospital. Although she had no children of her own, she gave a mother’s love to many others through the years. She was a cook and a caregiver for many years at various places before retiring.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband Everett, who she had married in 1939.
Ms. Loper is survived by her God daughter and her husband, Barbara and Roger Young of Frederica; an aunt, Lilian Macey of Summit, N.J.; her nieces, Nancy Vershir of Wilmington, Francis Green of New Jersey and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and a very loving and devoted cousin, Mrs. Lola Gibbs.
She also is survived by long time family friends she often referred to as her children, Burton Betts and Dean of Frederica, Irene Kirkman and Richard of Camden, George Davidson Jr. and Lois of Magnolia, the Rev. Fred and Yvonne Brunson of Dover, Mishika Thomas of Dover and Gloria Carson of Bear.
