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.
A memorial service for Nancy Ann Payne, 64, of Harrington, was held Friday, Jan. 18, at the Melvin Funeral Home, Harrington. Mrs. Payne died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008, at the Seaford Center.
Mrs. Payne was born in Freeport, Maine, daughter of the late Albert Merill Graham Sr. and Roberta Irene Graham.
She worked as a manager in several different department stores, including Main Street Variety and Renys Department Store, both in Maine, and most recently at Peebles, Milford.
In her spare time, Mrs. Payne enjoyed crocheting, sewing, reading, making ceramics and playing bingo. Above all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was a prankster and a jokester and enjoyed playing tricks on the family. She enjoyed Halloween because she could dress up in costumes.
Mrs. Payne loved to dance around with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with her false teeth out or upside down.
She was a very fun-loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed life and lived life to the fullest. She took every available moment to spend time with family and left many hilarious and fun loving memories that they will cherish for many years to come.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll E. Payne Sr.; a brother, Albert Graham Jr.; and her sisters, Ann Goldthwaite and Mary Antoniak-Smith.
Mrs. Payne is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Carroll E. Jr. and Ellen Payne of Plymouth, Maine; three daughters, Tammy J. Payne of Felton, Sally A. Payne of Harrington and Pamela J. and Kevin Gruwell, also of Harrington.
She also is survived by a brother, Roland H. Graham of Harrington; and five sisters, Arlene Matlock of Sandia, Texas, Merilyn Ward of Fryeburg, Maine, Joan Kiesman of Denmark, Maine, Virginia Pinkham of Spring, Texas, and Jennifer Blood of Lovell, Maine.
Finally, Mrs. Payne is survived by her grandchildren, Jessica, Jennifer, April, Anna and Julia Payne and Marie Gruwell; and her great-grandchildren, Lexi Wilson and Davin Moore.
Interment will be at a later date in the family plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Denmark.
Celine ‘Terry’ Smith
Remembrance services for Celine “Terry” Smith, 81, of Dover, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in the Trader Funeral Home, 12 Lotus St., Dover, where friends may call beginning one hour before. Mrs. Smith died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, at her son’s home, surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Smith was born March 6, 1926, in Berlin, N.H., daughter of the late Albert and Denise Duquette Plante.
She worked at and retired from Kent Systems of Dover.
Mrs. Smith traveled throughout the world with her husband and family, and spoke three languages, French, English and Spanish.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Senior Master Sgt. Edward E. Smith, whom she affectionately called “Smitty;” and her much beloved grandson, Kyle Brandon Shultz.
Mrs. Smith is survived by a son daughter-in-law, Gregory P. and Lynn Smith of Dover; a daughter and son-in-law, Denise S. and David Samans of Dover; a sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Joe Beriault of Georgia; three granddaughters and a son-in-law, Kristen and David Nantz; Taylor Smith and Jamie Barrett and her fiancé, Tre Roach; and a grandson and his wife, Jason and Christie Jones.
Interment will be at the convenience of the family.
The family requests memorial contributions be given to Delaware Hospice, 911 Lotus Plaza, Dover, DE 19904; the American Diabetes Association, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 102, Wilmington, DE; or the American Heart Association, 1151 Walker Road, Suite 202, Dover, DE 19904.
A Cha Thompson
Funeral services for A Cha Thompson, 64, of Dover, were held Friday, Jan. 18, in the Funeral Home of Michael J. Ambruso, Dover. Mrs. Thompson died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008, at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Mrs. Thompson moved to the United States in 1976. She lived in Fredericksburg, Va., and moved to Dover in 1989.
Mrs. Thompson was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother.
She worked for several years in food service at Kent General Hospital, until disability caused her retirement in 2002.
Mrs. Thompson was an active member of the Korean Baptist Church of Dover and was well known as a person who gave of herself to others.
She was a dedicated homemaker who enjoyed cooking, sewing and household projects.
Mrs. Thompson is survived by her husband, Mark “Sarge” Thompson of Dover; a daughter and son-in-law, Chae Yong “Janie” and Tim Bond of Felton; a granddaughter, Tara Elise Bond of Felton; and a sister, Koonja Lee of Seoul, South Korea.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Thompson’s name may be made to the Korean Baptist Church, 2659 McKee Road, Dover, DE 19904.
Clarence C. Barbour Sr.
Funeral services for Clarence C. Barbour Sr., 68, of Camden, were held Friday, Dec. 14, in Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming. Mr. Barbour died Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Barbour was born Oct. 23, 1939, in Halifax, Va., son of the late Shirley Hiram and Lorraine Stoval Barbour.
He served his country in the U.S. Army until 1967 with five years service, achieving the rank of sergeant.
Mr. Barbour began his career in 1967 as an automotive mechanic in the Public Property Department for the city of Philadelphia.
In the same year he was promoted to automotive shop foreman, where his reputation for fine work, especially in terms of his service to the fire department, became legendary.
While he was there, Mr. Barbour was assigned to the fire unit in Shop I, where he accepted responsibility for maintaining the fire engines, ladder trucks, and fire department medic and rescue units. In this capacity he was admired for his technical knowledge as well as his friendly manner and easy disposition.
He received a citation from the city of Philadelphia honoring him on May 28, 1995.
Mr. Barbour retired as instructor in the driver license operations.
He was a member of the American Legion.
Mr. Barbour enjoyed fishing, boating and working on hot rod cars.
He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Okyoun Lee Barbour; a daughter and son-in-law, Theresa and Roy Chambers III of Philadelphia; a son, Clarence C. Barbour Jr. of Ardmore, Pa.; three grandchildren, Toria Chambers, Roy Chambers and Milan Chambers, all of Philadelphia; a brother, Herman Barbour of Halifax, Va.; and an extended family of friends and co-workers
Funeral services for Edward Joshua Bennett, 70, of Dover and Rehoboth Beach, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at the Christ Episcopal Church, South State and Water streets, Dover. Friend may call on the family at from 6 until 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, at the Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover. Mr. Bennett died Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, at home.
Mr. Bennett was born Oct. 28, 1937, in Dover, son of the late Joshua and Pauline Moore Bennett.
He graduated from Dover High School and the University of Delaware, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and was captain of the university lacrosse team. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Mr. Bennett served as assistant administrator at Milford Memorial Hospital from 1960-1972. In 1965, he became president of the family business, Bennett Security Services, which at the time was the first privately owned security company working on the Delmarva Peninsula.
He had a long career in government and community service. From 1976 until 1994, he served in the Delaware House of Representatives in the 32nd District, where he was chairman of the House Education Committee, School Finance Study Committee, Vo-Tech “2+2” Articulation Committee, Delaware Teacher Recruitment and Retention Committee, Bond Bill Committee and the Joint Finance Committee.
Mr. Bennett was a member of the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, the state’s official revenue forecasting body. In 1994, then-Gov. Tom Carper appointed him to the position of chairman of the Delaware Health Care Commission.
He had a record of deep community involvement, serving on the board of trustees at the University of Delaware from 1995 to 2000, Wesley College and Christiana Care Hospital. He also served on the board of the Better Business Bureau, from 1995 until 2001 was on the board of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and was a commissioner of the Delaware River and Bay Authority from 1997 until 2003.
Mr. Bennett was a member of Ducks Unlimited, Friends of Wesley College, Greater Dover Committee and Delaware Veterans Inc. He also served on the Kent General Hospital Building Fund, St. Jones River Improvement Association and the Silver Lake Commission. He was honored with the Alexis De Tocqueville Society of Delaware Humanitarian Award in 1998, and that same year was inducted into the University of Delaware Alumni Wall of Fame in recognition for his professional and public service achievements.
After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, hunting, and golfing in Rehoboth Beach and Bonita Springs, Fla., with family and friends. He also could be found cheering on the Delaware Blue Hens at both home and away football games.
Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife of 43 years, Judy Lynn Johnson Bennett; his children and their spouses, E. Bradford and Samantha Bennett of Dover and Terri Bennett Reilly and Andrew Reilly of Newark; and four grandchildren, Caroline Bennett and Josh Bennett and Alexandra Reilly and Meghan Reilly.
Interment will follow the funeral service at the Lakeside M.E. Cemetery on North State Street, Dover.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Edward J. Bennett Lacrosse Scholarship Fund, University of Delaware Development Office, 5 W. Main St., Newark, DE 19716 or Delaware Hospice, 911 South DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Kathleen ‘Kay’ Spicer Cherrix
Kathleen “Kay” Spicer Cherrix, 84, of Dover, died peacefully in her sleep Friday, Dec. 14, 2007, at her daughter's home surrounded by her family members.
Mrs. Cherrix was born May 30, 1923, daughter of the late Curtis M. and Clarabelle Spicer of Oak Orchard.
For many years she was a self-employed beautician who owned and operated Kay's Beauty Salon in Harrington and Milford.
Her favorite pastimes were shopping with her daughters and granddaughters and working in her yard. She had a green thumb and loved growing African violets.
She also loved spending time with family pets Angus, Clancey, Peaches, Rocky, Freedom and Max.
She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by many special friends and neighbors, especially George and Stephanie Kennedy and family for her great sense of humor and her matter-of-factness.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Jerry L. Cubbage; her significant other, Herbert Emerson Moore of Dover; and her beloved Pomeranian, Sugar Baby.
Mrs. Cherrix is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Jo and Richard Bergold of Dover and Siggy and Don Millman of Milton; one son and his wife, Barry and Nancy Dodd of Georgetown; six granddaughters, Keri Mitchell and her husband Paris of Milton, Angelia Rosario and her husband Henry of Cambridge, Md., Erica Dodd of Georgetown, Lisa Cubbage of Selbyville and Melissa Knight and her husband Jay of Smyrna; five grandsons, Kenneth Thompson and his wife Tammy of Chattanooga, Tenn., Brett Millman of Milton, Jerry “D.J.” Cubbage of Selbyville, George Dodd of Georgetown and Chris Bergold and his wife Cheri of Smyrna; and eight great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by the Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover. There will be no funeral service, in accordance with Mrs. Cherrix’s wishes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice, 911 Lotus Plaza, Dover, DE 19901.
Margaret Scotton deValinger
Funeral services for Margaret Scotton deValinger, 101, a longtime Dover resident, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, in Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., Smyrna. Mrs. deValinger died on Friday, Dec. 14, 2007, in Heritage of Dover.
Mrs. deValinger was born in Templeville, Md., daughter of the late Jonathon A. and Cora Honey Scotton.
She was a graduate of the University of Delaware Women’s College, and had been an elementary school teacher at several schools in Wilmington and Dover.
Mrs. deValinger was a longtime member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Dover, and had been a member of the Dover Garden Club.
Her husband of 67 years, Dr. Leon deValinger, died in 2000.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. deValinger’s name may be sent to Wesley United Methodist Church, 209 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901; or to Delaware Hospice Inc., 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
