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 celebration of life service for Caleb Jackson “CJ” “Chick” Register, were held Tuesday, Nov. 20, in the Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming. Mr. Register died Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, in his home, surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Register was born Aug. 1, 1919, in Camden-Wyoming, son of the late Arthur and Anna Jackson Register.
He served his country proudly in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked as a civil servant at Dover Air Force Base in refrigeration, retiring in 1980.
His hobbies included fishing and hunting, and he loved nature.
Mr. Register was always ready to lend a helping hand, but was reluctant to receive help or compliments.
He will be remembered by his strong traits and for always teaching others skills he had learned through life’s lessons.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Gary J. Register; a sister, Anna Brook Spence; and a brother, Arthur Register.
Mr. Register is survived by his wife of 64 years, Anna Maude Register; a son, Kevin L. Register and his companion Kathleen Forsman of Hartly; a daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Merle Mel Thomas; his grandchildren, Shane Thomas and his wife Connie Thomas of Newport News, Va., Brent Thomas and his wife Sacha Thomas of Birmingham, Ala., twins Dylan Jackson Register and Phoebe Annette Register and their mother Rhonda Fibelkorn Register and Alyssa Forsman; his great-grandchildren, Reece and Hailey Thomas and Chase Thomas; a nephew, Arthur Register; and his nieces, Judy Spence Fowler and Sally Spence Rigby.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Register’s name may be made to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901; or Southside Baptist Church, 4904 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Nathan Wayne Sipple
Funeral services for Nathan Wayne Sipple, 50, of Wyoming, were held Monday, Nov. 19, in the Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming. Mr. Sipple died Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, in his home.
Mr. Sipple was born Sept. 25, 1957, in Dover, the son of Nathan Sipple Jr., now of Wyoming, and of Gladys Z. Sipple, also of Wyoming.
He graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in 1976 and was a mechanic for Sipple Used Cars, Camden-Wyoming.
Mr. Sipple was a member of the Camden-Wyoming Moose Lodge. He was very civic minded and served for the past 15-plus years on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the town of Wyoming.
He enjoyed fishing, working on his boat and was an automobile enthusiast, working on older cars. He also enjoyed collecting antiques, especially cranberry glass.
Mr. Sipple was preceded in death by a half sister, Debra Sipple.
In addition to his mother and father, Mr. Sipple is survived by a brother, David Sipple of Wyoming; a half-brother, Nathan Edward Sipple of Wyoming; and a close friend, Jill Landing of Dover.
Funeral services for Dennis Skinner, 54, formerly of Dover, will be held at noon Saturday, Nov. 24, in the New Hope Baptist Church, 1230 N. Heald St., Wilmington, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Mr. Skinner died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, Pa.
Mr. Skinner was born July 22, 1953, in Chester, Pa., the son of Beulah Skinner Jones and the late Robert Skinner Jr. He was raised by his stepfather, the late Mervin L. Jones Sr.
He received his education in Chester, and later enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, then moved to Dover, where he married his wife, Rochell Henson, in January 1979. He later moved back to Chester, where he worked for Delaware County Corrections and Del-Val Enterprises. He loved to dance, listen to “oldies,” go fishing and to give his nieces and nephews crazy nicknames.
In addition to his father and stepfather, Mr. Skinner was preceded in death by two brothers, John Skinner and Glenn Skinner; a sister, Alice Draugh; and his grandparents, Leon and Elizabeth Harris.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his children and the spouse of one, Eric Ransom of California, Tyra Denise and Keith Bell of Virginia, Dennis Skinner Jr. of Delaware, Brian Skinner Jr. of Delaware and Kaylen Thomas of Pennsylvania; and his brothers and their respective spouses, Taimur Harris Sr., Robert George II and Barbara Skinner, Robert George Skinner III, Howard Jones, Reginald Glover, Stevie Skinner, Ronald and Lois Skinner and Michael and Jean Skinner, all of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Skinner also is survived by his sisters and the spouse of one, Patricia Skinner, Vanessa James, Claudette James and Elizabeth Skinner, all of Pennsylvania, Sheila Skinner, Mervina and Barry Creighton, Vanessa and Elijah Banks, Sylvia Jones and Leona Jones, all of Delaware, Acqueanetta and Brian Tucker of Texas and Delsie Jenkins of Maryland; a niece who was raised as his sister, Valarie Skinner Matthews; a sister-in-law, Flave of Delaware; his stepmother, Marie Skinner of Pennsylvania; 10 grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and his best friend of more than 40 years, David Kersey of Pennsylvania.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Skinner’s name may be made in care of Beulah Jones, 426 S. New St., Apt. 107, Dover, DE 19904.
George R. Stratton
George R. Stratton, 80, of Frederica died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007, at Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Stratton was born in Brockton, Mass., son of the late George Reed and Sylvia Stratton.
He served his country proudly during World War II in the U.S. Navy, where he had the privilege of serving aboard the destroyers USS Duncan, USS Chandler and the USS Wood, and was involved with the Asiatic Pacific campaigns.
Professionally, Mr. Stratton worked as a sales consultant for the Neenah Hardwood Products. After his retirement, he worked for Bennett Security.
Growing up, he was a member of the Boy Scouts and was a second-class scout. He received a certificate for never missing a day of school, a feat rarely seen today.
After his marriage, he and his father-in-law trained dogs, and were in many field trails. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Mr. Stratton was a Mason for many years. He will be remembered as a fun loving individual who lived life to the fullest, and would do anything for anyone.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ann Stratton.
Mr. Stratton is survived by two sons and their wives, Fred and Judy Stratton of Cape Coral, Fla., and Jerry and Cathie Stratton of Milton; a lifelong friend and companion, Lisa Stegall of Frederica; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by the Melvin Funeral Home, Harrington.
Elizabeth R. ‘Betty’ Watson
Funeral services for Elizabeth R. “Betty” Watson, 59, of Dover, formerly of Townsend, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, in St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 22 N. Union St., Smyrna, where friends may call two hours prior. Mrs. Watson died Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, at home.
Mrs. Watson was born in Chester, Pa., the daughter of Ida Kunstek, now of Oxford, Pa., and the late Michael J. Kunstek Jr. She was raised in Aston, Pa.
She graduated from Sun Valley High School in Aston in 1966, and attended nursing college in Philadelphia for two years.
After raising her family, she went back and completed her nursing training at Delaware Technical & Community College, Georgetown. Mrs. Watson proudly graduated with a 4.0 average to earn her R.N. degree in 1987.
She then worked employed for 12 years at the Governor Bacon Health Center, Delaware City, and retired in 1999 to take care of her husband.
Mrs. Watson enjoyed reading and boating and will be remembered as a loving, giving and nurturing person. The most important thing in her life was her family.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, John J. Watson Jr.; and a brother, Michael J. Kunstek III.
In addition to her mother, Mrs. Watson is survived by a daughter, Dawn Marie Watson of Dover; two sons, J. Jay Watson III of Smyrna, and Douglas J. Watson Sr. of Townsend; a brother, James Kunstek of Aston; a sister, Judi Vernon of West Grove, Pa.; four grandchildren, Douglas J. Watson Jr. of Townsend, Alexis Watson of Newark, Brandi Watson of Townsend, and Allie Watson of Newark; her godson, John Vernon IV of Phoenix; and several nieces and nephews.
Instead of flowers, contributions may be sent to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 22 N. Union St., Smyrna, DE 19977.
Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.
WyCliffe Aird
Funeral services for WyCliffe Aird, 40, of Dover, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, in Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover, where friends may view two hours prior. Mr. Aird died after a brief illness Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Aird was born Jan. 1, 1967, son of the late WyCliffe S. Aird and Ossa Bell Green.
He received his early education in the Dover and Caesar Rodney school districts. Additionally he attended Harbor Farrie Job Corps where he received training in carpentry.
Mr. Aird was a gentle giant and had a great affection for people, especially those in his inner circle: Elizabeth Pierson and family, Ms. Spence and family, as well as Apostle Boyd and his church family.
He will be remembered most for his giving heart and hunger to please God.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Aird.
Mr. Aird is survived by three sisters, MaryAnn Green of Smyrna, Marilyn Smith of Dover and Uganda Sumner of Milford; a brother, Willie Shepherd of Chesapeake, Va.; a brother-in-law, Kenneth Smith; three nieces; four nephews; one grandnephew; and a host of friends.
Funeral services for Barbara Ann Baker, 65, of Frederica, were held Monday, Oct. 22, in the McKnatt, Carpenter & Baker Funeral Home, Harrington. Mrs. Baker died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mrs. Baker was born Jan. 2, 1942, in Dover, daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret Poore Chike.
She was a graduate of Dover High School.
Mrs. Baker worked for the Playtex Corp., Dover, for more than 19 years before retiring in 1996.
She was very good with doing things with her hands, including knitting and making necklaces and bracelets. She also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles in her spare time.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters.
Mrs. Baker is survived by her husband of 41 years, Allen A. Baker; a daughter, Gina M. Carey of Milford; a son, Michael A. Baker of Frederica; and a granddaughter, Abigail N. Carey of Milford.
