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 Everett D. “Dave” Bryan, 71, M.D., of Dover, were held Saturday, May 3, in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Dover. Mr. Bryan died peacefully Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at his home.
Dr. Bryan was born in Lewes, son of the late Everett D. and Gertrude D. Bryan.
He graduated from Dover High School and Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, and served in the U.S. Public Health Service in Philadelphia before returning to Dover to begin his 30 years in the general practice of medicine, retiring in 1996.
Dr. Bryan was a member of the Medical Society of Delaware, Kent County Medical Society, and a life member of the Delaware Academy of Family Physicians.
He was known for his historical research, articles, displays and lectures on the early mercantile history of Delaware, including his peach slide show, “The Fuzzy Phenomenon,” and his sweet sorghum pressing demonstrations at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village.
His hobby was collecting and researching antique Delaware pottery, bottles and cans. He donated the latter two collections to the Delaware state museums. A portion of these can be seen at the Museum of Small Town Life in Dover.
Upon retirement, he wrote a local history book, now out of print, called “Ho! For Collins’ Beach!” documenting an 1800s resort northeast of Smyrna.
He was interested in the Confederate raider “Alabama,” on which a relative served, and spoke on the subject for various organizations. He performed musically on saxophone, guitar and novelty musical instruments in various settings, including many years in a nursing home ministry with his wife and granddaughter, Theresa.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a step-grandson, Justin Christmas.
Dr. Bryan is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rose; two daughters and their husbands, Mary L. and Donald Christmas and Laura R. and Robert Kaehler; a brother, Terry A. Bryan, D.M.D., and his wife Margaret; six grandchildren, Theresa Kaehler, Robert Kaehler, Michael Kaehler, Moriah Kaehler, Kamilia Kaehler and Alexander Kaehler; a step-granddaughter, Shannon Brenner and husband Michael; and two step-great-grandchildren, Jonathan Brenner and Timothy Brenner.
Funeral services for Larry Dale Davis, of Camden, were held Tuesday, May 6, in Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover. Mr. Davis died Wednesday, April 30, 2008, surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Davis was born in Albion, Neb., son of the late John Davis and Daisy Coatney Davis.
He was husband of Lynn Marie Hilferty Davis, with whom he shared 27 years of marriage.
Mr. Davis was a veteran of the Vietnam, Gulf and Iraq wars, having served in the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force reserves, retiring as a loadmaster supervisor after 37 years of honorable service.
Mr. Davis was a member of the Marantha Baptist Church in Camden.
He kept busy with his hobbies of collecting memorabilia from the Old West and World War II. He also loved to fly, restore old cars and was an avid reader.
In addition to his father, Mr. Davis was preceded in death by his two sisters, Louise Coy and Mildred Tanner.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Michael Davis of Camden; and his daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Arjan Jansen of the Netherlands.
A memorial service for Nathalie R. DiSilvestro, 62, of Dover, will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2008, at the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, where friends may call beginning at 6 p.m. Mrs. DiSilvestro died Friday, April 18, 2008, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mrs. DiSilvestro was born Aug. 22, 1945 in New Jersey, daughter of the late Daniel and Mary Murtha Rockwell.
While living in New Jersey she worked in accounting and most recently enjoyed life as a homemaker. She enjoyed crafts, art and being with her family. She also did volunteer work for New Jersey Ladies Auxiliary Fire Company.
Mrs. DiSilvestro is survived by her husband of 21 years Patrick DiSilvestro, three children John Sanflippo of Dover, Sandra DiSilvestro of Brick, N.J. and Marie Williams of Williamstown, N.J.; a sister, Regina Bilton of Middletown; and a grandson, Anthony Williams.
Funeral services for Brenda Joyce Dunlap, 56, of Dover, were held Monday, May 5, in Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover. Ms. Dunlap died Friday, April 25, 2008, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Ms. Dunlap was born Jan. 29, 1952, in Austin, Texas, daughter of Rebecca Alexander, now of Dover, and the late Joseph D. Alexander.
She was educated in the Capitol and Caesar Rodney school districts. She worked at Woolco for 11 years in Dover.
Ms. Dunlap enjoyed life and lit up the life of anyone she encountered. She enjoyed singing and eating different foods. If she wasn’t trying to get a recipe, she was trying to get someone to buy her some food at the Delaware Home for the Chronically Ill, where her sister worked.
Her family will miss the person they called their “baby girl,” who was the love of their lives and who will light up heaven as she did her home on Earth. She will be missed, but her family knows she’s in a better place, where there will be no more suffering, no more pain and no need for them to cry together.
In addition to her mother, Ms. Dunlap is survived by five brothers and three sisters-in-law, Joseph Jr. and Norma of Copperas Cove, Texas, Abdul Nasir and Lorraine of Richmond, Va., Donald and Bertha of Tampa, Fla., Michael of Pennsylvania, and Ricky, David and Shawn, all of Dover; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Bernice and Elmer, and Patricia and Linda, all of Dover; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Interment was in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, west of Dover.
Patricia Ann Ference
A Celebration of Life services for Patricia Ann Ference, 72, of Dover, will be held at noon Wednesday, May 7, at Luther Towers Building 1, 430 Kings Highway, Dover. Mrs. Ference died peacefully Sunday, May 4, 2008, at the home of her daughter, Ann.
Mrs. Ference was born Dec. 5, 1935, in Old Town, Maine, daughter of the late Frederick and Corinne LaBelle Paul.
She moved to Dover in 1988.
Mrs. Ference was a homemaker.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert and Eugene Paul; her sister, Dorothy Morgan, all of Old Towne; and a brother, Joseph Paul of Roslindale, Mass.
Mrs. Ference is survived by her husband of 53 years, Clarence “Bud” Ference of Dover; two daughters and their husbands, Ann and Robert Dombrowski of Dover and Corinne and Richard Burgholzer of Clayton; and two sons and their wives, John and Donna Ference of Hahira, Ga., and Joseph and Cherie Ference of Dover.
She also is survived by two sisters, Phyllis Nason and Laurie Cammack, both of Bangor, Maine; six grandchildren, Joseph Ference Jr. and his wife Cassie, Patrick Ference, Laurie Ann and Patricia Dombrowski, all of Dover, Danny Holmes and his wife Monica of Clayton, and Stephaine Ference of Hahira; and three great-grandchildren, Zackary and Allyson Holmes of Clayton, and Areianna of Dover.
Johnson service
A memorial service will be held for Clem R. Johnson at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 9, 2008, in the Pippin Funeral Home, 110 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming. Mr. Johnson died Jan. 30, 2008. Interment will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden.
Master Sgt. Gary K. Lynn, USAF (Ret.)
Funeral services for Gary K. Lynn, 64, of Dover, were held Tuesday, May 6, in the Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming. Mr. Lynn died Friday, May 2, 2008, at his home.
Mr. Lynn was born Feb. 20, 1944, in Plainfield, N.J., son of the late Ellsworth and Patricia Campbell Lynn.
He served his country proudly for three years in the U.S. Army and 19 years in the U.S. Air Force, ending 22 years of service with the rank of master sergeant, having served several tours in Vietnam, retiring in 1985.
After his military career, he took his most recent position with the state of Delaware working in radiation control.
Mr. Lynn was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
He enjoyed fishing and gardening.
Mr. Lynn is survived by his wife of 40 years, Gail Lynn of Dover; his twin brother, Gordon D. Lynn of Little Falls, N.J.; a brother and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Mary Lynn of Fishkill, N.Y.; two sisters, Joan McLaughlin of Richmond, Va., and Gail Hensel of Orlando, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Interment was in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.
