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.
Memorial services for Dora F. Bell, 80, of Greenwood, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, in the Trinity United Methodist Church, Bridgeville, where friends also may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. Mrs. Bell died Friday, July 27, 2007, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital, Milford.
Mrs. Bell was the daughter of the late John Foreman and Eliza Dickerson Foreman of Greenwood.
She attended Greenwood public schools, Phyllis Wheatley in Bridgeville, Booker T. Washington and Delaware State High School in Dover. She was a 1948 graduate of Delaware State College (now University) with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and continued with 45 graduate credits from the University of Delaware and Salisbury State University.
Mrs. Bell taught in the Milford School District for 30 years and once was selected as Teacher of the Year. While teaching, she had eight student teachers from Delaware State University to train under her. She also served as a substitute teacher in Delaware and Maryland for a period of time.
She was a lifetime member of the Delaware State University Alumni and served as Alumni Trustee and Miss Alumni. She was a caretaker for the state of Delaware Child Welfare Department and she also served as the 4-H Club Leader for the Greenwood Helping Hands Club.
Mrs. Bell’s greatest passion was for God and her church. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Bridgeville. She served in many ways as church school teacher, Bible school teacher, lay speaker, financial secretary, pastor’s parish relations committee, United Methodist Women, unit leader and various other committees.
She enjoyed flowers, traveling, watching plays, helping others and dining out.
Mrs. Bell was a wonderful wife and mother and she tried to aid anyone who needed help.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years and local artist, Booker T. Bell, who died in December 2003; and two sisters, Beatrice Carter and Clarice Waters.
Mrs. Bell is survived by three sons and a daughter-in-law, Bryant T. and Zoe Bell of Wyoming, Howard N. Bell of Seaford and John Kevin Bell of Adrian, Mich.; a brother, Preston Foreman of Greenwood; a granddaughter, Katrina Bell of Bridgeville; two grandsons, Fanton Bell of St. Louis, Mo., and Brian Holloway of Dover; and many nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren and friends.
Arrangements were by Harris-Nock Funeral Home, Greenwood.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Trinity United Methodist Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 98, Greenwood, DE 19950.
Etzell R. Coffin
Funeral services for Etzell R. Coffin, 97, of Dover, were held Monday, July 30, in Little Creek United Methodist Church, Little Creek. Mrs. Coffin died Monday, July 23, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mrs. Coffin was born March 8, 1910 in Little Creek, daughter of the late Capt. Clarence James and Elsie W. Blocksom Turner.
She lived in New Jersey, Colorado and Texas, and came back to Delaware in 1983.
Mrs. Coffin worked for the Bell Telephone Co. in Philadelphia, the Belanca Aircraft Co., and as a typist for the DuPont Co. in Wilmington for many years, retiring in 1974.
She was a warm, generous and loving person who was devoted to family and friends.
Mrs. Coffin loved to crochet, needlepoint and knit, making hats, booties and blankets for newborns at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital and Afghans for family and friends.
She was a very talented piano player; who played by ear and note and until her recent illness played the piano for the Sunday service at Little Creek Methodist Church and for the Luther Towers evening services. She liked to swim, play golf and travel.
Mrs. Coffin was a former member of Immanuel Baptist in Wilmington and First Baptist Church in Dover.
Mrs. Coffin was the beloved wife of the late George P. Riddagh, the late Paul Killen and the late Homer P. Coffin.
She is survived by her sisters, Irma Turner Teague of Dover, and Gloria Coverdale of Lakeland, Fla.; and her children, Robert Phillip Riddagh and his children, Christopher R. Riddagh and Wenona Riddagh, all of Wilmington, Lois R. Wicks and her husband James and their son Daniel Wicks and his wife Pam of Wilmington, James Martin Riddagh and his wife Margaret and their son Mark Riddagh and his wife Cynthia of New York.
Mrs. Coffin also is survived by a special niece, Suzanne Jensen and her husband James and their children of Smyrna; a special cousin, Christine Hopkins of Dover; and a niece and nephew, Nancy C. Brown of Lakeland, Fla., and Franklin Teague of Tampa, Fla.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Coffin’s name may be made to Little Creek United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 485, Little Creek, Dover, DE 19961.
Ruby Pauline Cross
Funeral services for Ruby Pauline Cross, 82, of Dover, were held Friday, July 27, at the Kenton Mennonite Church. Additional services were held July 30 at Fair Haven A.M. Church, Goshen, Ind. Mrs. Cross died Tuesday, July 24, 2007, in her home.
Mrs. Cross was born Oct. 30, 1924, in Middlebury, Ind., daughter of the late Harvey and Amanda Miller.
She was a homemaker.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, William E. Cross, on Aug. 28, 1997; two sons, Marvin and Robert; two grandsons, Jason Miller and Jonathan Gingerich; three sisters, Leanna, Mary and Arlene; and a brother, Alvin.
Mrs. Cross is survived by four daughters, Joanna James Gingerich of Bloomfield, N.M., Marlene Duane Miller of Dover, Marilyn David Lee Miller of Garland, Utah, and Jeanne Rodney Witmer of Flora Vista, N.M.; four sons, Ronald Cross of Tunas, Mo., Donald Cross of Hanoverton, Ohio, William Cross of Lititz, Pa., and Verlin Cross of Millwood, Ky.; 49 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Velma Leroy Schrock and Esther Rogers; and a brother, Vernon Miller.
Arrangements were by Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming.
Master Sgt. Norbert ‘Norm’ Gallegos, USAF (Ret.)
A Mass of Christian Burial for Norbert “Norm” Gallegos, 61, of Dover, will be celebrated at noon Wednesday, Aug. 1, in the Church of the Holy Cross, 631 S. State St., Dover. Friends may call on the family from 9 until 11 a.m. that morning at the Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover. Mr. Gallegos died Friday, July 27, 2007, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital, Milford.
Mr. Gallegos was born April 8, 1946, in Furth, Germany, the son of Charlotte Schwartz Gallegos and the late José Mauricio Gallegos.
An Air Force veteran who served three tours of duty during the Vietnam War, Mr. Gallegos retired as a master sergeant after serving 26 years. He last worked as an aircraft mechanic with the former 436th Field Maintenance Squadron at Dover Air Force Base.
Mr. Gallegos enjoyed cooking, golfing and gardening. He liked to help people in need and volunteered at the Church of the Holy Cross, Dover. He loved being with family and friends for gatherings.
In addition to his father, Mr. Gallegos was preceded in death by a son and daughter-in-law, John A. Sr. and Julie Gallegos; and a sister, Rita Gallegos.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Patricia Peck Gallegos of Dover; three children, Sheila M. Gallegos, Joseph D. Gallegos and John A. Gallegos Jr. all of Dover; and nine grandchildren.
Mr. Gallegos also is survived by 10 brothers and sisters, Robert Gallegos of San Antonio, Texas, Roy Gallegos and his wife, Mary of Miami, Charlotte D’Ostilio and her husband, John of Monroe, Conn., Helen Evans and her husband, Dan of Torrance, Calif., Henry Gallegos and his wife, Wendy Seiber Gallegos of Orem, Utah, Grace Weaver and her husband, Bryan of Syracuse, Utah, Margaret Rinehart and her husband, Arty of Clinton, Utah, Mary McKay and her husband, Mike of Ogden, Utah, Joe Gallegos and his wife, Nora of Salt Lake City and Vicki Sorensen and her husband, Gary of London; and 28 nieces and nephews.
Interment will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, west of Dover.
Robert F. ‘Bobby’ Lewis
Funeral services for Robert F. “Bobby” Lewis, 64, of Hartly, were held Monday, July 30, in Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, Smyrna. Mr. Lewis died Thursday, July 26, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Lewis was born in Wilmington, son of the late Harry and Syvilla Lewis.
He was a union carpenter for Local 626 for many years, and enjoyed woodcarving in his spare time. He also enjoyed spending time visiting with his many friends at the Smyrna Diner.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Bernice Barrett.
Mr. Lewis is survived by a brother, Harry Lewis of Townsend; three sisters, Lorraine Tharp of Smyrna, Diane Nobayashi of Middletown and Lana Brookens of Milford; and many nieces and nephews, including a nephew with whom he lived, Louie Lewis of Hartly.
Interment was in Gracelawn Memorial Park, New Castle.
June Elizabeth McAlexander
Funeral services for June Elizabeth McAlexander, 76, of Camden-Wyoming, were held Thursday, July 26, in Torbert Funeral Chapel South, Dover. Mrs. McAlexander died Monday, July 23, 2007, at home.
Mrs. McAlexander was born June 17, 1931, in Bronx, N.Y., to the late Harold and Mae Renke Hartmayer.
She and her husband moved to Delaware from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 2003.
Mrs. McAlexander was a homemaker who enjoyed knitting, crocheting and gardening, but her biggest joy in life was taking care of her family.
Mrs. McAlexander was a member of the Methodist church in Poughkeepsie.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Hartmayer, in 1994.
Mrs. McAlexander is survived by her husband of 54 years, Frank Giles McAlexander of Dover; five daughters, Ellen Brod of Ocala, Fla., Elizabeth Brennan of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., Eileen McAlexander of Ocala, Elaine Slujtner of Sykesville, Md., and Evelyn McAlexander of Wappingers Falls; her brother, John Hartmayer of Henderson, Nev.; and five grandchildren, Steven and Kevin Slujtner, John McAlexander, and Rebecca and Thomas Brennan.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. McAlexander’s name may be made to the Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Mildred M. ‘Millie’ McConnell
A Mass of Christian Burial for Mildred M. “Millie” McConnell, 67, of Harrington, will be celebrated at noon Friday, Aug, 3, in St. Bernadettes Catholic Church, 109 Dixon St., Harrington, where friends may call after 11 a.m. Friends also may call on the family from 7 until 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, at the Lofland Funeral Home, 102 Lakeview Ave., Milford. Mrs. McConnell died Monday, July 30, 2007, in the Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Mrs. McConnell was born March 13, 1940, in Petries, Newfoundland, Canada, daughter of the late Pierce Patrick and Sarah Rose Locklyn Brake.
She was a homemaker, a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family. She was an excellent cook and was most known for her chocolate chip cookies. She also enjoyed quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, watching NASCAR racing and spending time by the water crabbing. She also loved to travel back to her homeland in Canada.
Mrs. McConnell was a member of St. Bernadettes Catholic Church, Harrington as well as a member of the Newfie Club of Delaware.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick J. McConnell in May 2006; a daughter-in-law, Donna Porter McConnell in January 2006; and a sister, Gertrude Noseworthy.
Mrs. McConnell is survived by four sons and a daughter-in-law, Patrick J. Jr. and Diane McConnell of Ellendale, Michael W. McConnell of Dover, and Edward J. McConnell and Paul W. McConnell, both of Milford; and a daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen M. and Randy E. Cagle of Harrington.
She also is survived by six grandchildren: Adam C. Cagle, Nicole M. McConnell, Brittany and Tiffany McConnell-Postles and Nichole and Crystal Jackson; three brothers, Edward Brake, Thomas Brake and Paul Wayne Brake, all of Newfoundland; four sisters, Rose Mary McNaught of Terrance, British Columbia, Irene Stratton of Newfoundland, Esther Byrne of Labrador City, Canada and Kathleen Smith of Oshua, Ontario; and several nephews, nieces and cousins.
Interment will be in the Henlopen Memorial Park, Milton.
Elbert L. Melvin Sr.
Funeral services for Elbert L. Melvin Sr., 67, of Frederica, were held Monday, July 30, in Melvin Funeral Home, Harrington. Mr. Melvin died Saturday, July 21, 2007, in Heartland Hospice House, Wilmington.
Mr. Melvin was born in Felton, son of the late Oliver H. Melvin and Laura A. Melvin-Harvey.
He served his country proudly in the U.S. Marine Corps. He rose to the rank of lance corporal and was very devoted to the Corps.
Mr. Melvin was an auto mechanic and worked for Melvin Sunoco and Shirey’s Auto Sales. He was a workaholic, and when it came to cars he could fix almost anything.
He was an avid NASCAR and football fan.
Mr. Melvin was very family oriented and loved to go camping with his family, and he also loved to spoil his grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Charles R. Melvin, Dwayne C. Hosey and Clarence C. Melvin; and a sister, Clara Marie Melvin.
Mr. Melvin is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Georgia Melvin of Frederica; a son, Elbert L. Melvin Jr. of Elkton, Md.; and a daughter, Sherry M. Virgilio of Newark.
He also is survived by his brothers, William J. Melvin of Deming, N.M., Bazil Melvin of Sutton, W.Va., Russell Clutter of Sutton, Henry J. Harvey of Hartly, and Carl B. Harvey of Anchorage, Alaska; his sisters, Mary E. Dillon of Oberlin, Ohio, Helen J. Gray of Centerville, Pa., Deloris E. Ware of Sutton, Kay Y. Hosey of Morgantown, W.Va., Maryland S. Hinkle of Elkins, W.Va., and Brenda C. Barker of Martinsburg, W.Va.; seven grandchildren, Jennifer, Elbert III, Brian, Meghan, Mallorie, Kayla and Kyle; and a great-grandchild, Nicolas.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Melvin’s name may be made to the Heartland Hospice Service, The Stockton Building, 261 Chapman Road, Suite 100, Newark, DE 19702.
