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 Lee James “Billy” Moore, 61, of Dover, were held Monday, July 30, in Beacon Light House Church, West Dover. Mr. Moore died July 22, 2007, in the Bayhealth-Kent Medical Hospital, Dover. He had been on dialysis for more than 22 years.
Mr. Moore was born Sept. 4, 1945, in Swainsboro, Ga., son of the late Thomas James More Sr., and Willie Mae Wheeler.
He was raised by his stepfather, Alex Moore.
Mr. Moore was employed by Teal Construction and Little Creek Inc. for a short period of time.
He loved helping people even during times he did not feel well.
Mr. Moore loved watching westerns and playing Spades and had a special love for his family and friends. He enjoyed making money and bossing his buddies, Buck and Bobby.
He had his own way of thanking God for each and every day. On Sundays, he watched G.E. Patterson and Bobby Jones Gospel hour faithfully.
His favorite saying was, “No matter what you do in life whether you go to church or not, celebrate God in your own way.”
Mr. Moore is survived by his wife of 26 years, Charlene Moore; three daughters, Sherile A. Harris of Wyoming, Evangelist Rhonda Truitt and her husband, Deacon Jerome R. Trott Jr. and Angela Lee Moore, all of Dover; and a son, Lauren D.L. Moore, at home.
He also is survived by six grandchildren, Janay, JaQuay, Asia, Jaylin, Jireh, and Janai, all of Dover; his father-in-law, Mr. Alfonso Nixon; five brothers, Thomas Jr. of Dover, Steve Jerry, Keith, and William, all of Swainsboro, Ga.; and three sisters, Mildred Holloway of Youngstown, Ohio, and Joanne Moore and Debra Bey of Georgia.
In addition, Mr. Moore is survived by five sisters-in-law, Agnes Nixon, Rachelle Short, Edna Walker, Althea Nixon, and Leslie Carey; two brothers-in-law, Anthony Nixon and Alfonso Nixon Jr., all of Dover; three special friends, Buck, Dooby, and Pender; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Interment was in Sharon Hill Memorial Park, Dover.
Arrangements were by Minus Funeral Home, Dover.
Robert Wayne Richard
Memorial services for Robert Wayne Richard, 49, of Frederica, will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at the Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover. Mr. Richard died Saturday, July 28, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Richard was born Nov. 8, 1957, in Kittery, Maine, son of Elizabeth Erickson Richard, now of Frederica, and the late Joseph D. Richard, who died in July 1999.
His family moved to the Frederica area in 1960 where he has spent most of his life.
Mr. Richard worked for 30 years as a machine operator for Justin Tanks in Georgetown. He enjoyed watching NASCAR, especially Rusty Wallace, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He also enjoyed fresh water fishing and all animals. His biggest joy was spending time with his children.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by two sons, Robert and Ryan Richard, both of Viola; a daughter, Jenny Richard of Dover; and two brothers, Joseph Richard Jr. of Dover and Vincent Richard of Warwick, R.I. He is also survived his children’s mother, Debbie Richard.
Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kent County SPCA, 32 Shelter Circle, Camden, DE 19936.
Emil Samardza
Emil Samardza, 84, of Hartly, died Friday, July 27, 2007, in his home.
Mr. Samardza was born in Staten Island, N.Y., where he was worked for Savarin Coffee for more than 10 years.
He and his wife moved to Boston in 1954 where he was an employee of General Foods, moving to Delaware with the company in 1964. He retired in 1986.
Mr. Samardza is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dorothea Samardza; a daughter, Catherine Rose Samardza of Marydel; two sons, Charles Martin Samardza of Hartly and John Stephen Samardza and his wife, Melanie of Townsend.
Arrangements were by Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Samardza’s name may be made to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Hwy., Dover, DE 19901.
Dorothy Aileen Schlagenhauser
Celebration of life services for Dorothy Aileen Schlagenhauser, 81, of Dover, were held Tuesday, July 31, in Wesley United Methodist Church, Dover. Mrs. Schlagenhauser died Thursday, July 26, 2007, in her home.
Mrs. Schlagenhauser was born Dec. 2, 1925, in Chester, Pa., daughter of the late Clayton A. Sr. and Eleanor Stoms Carroll.
She worked for Scott Paper in Chester and Gimbals Department Store in Philadelphia. She was mostly a homemaker and a very good one.
Mrs. Schlagenhauser was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, Dover, the Marine Corps League Women’s Auxiliary, Modern Maturity Center, Dover, and Meals on Wheels. She volunteered for the after-school programs, the Girl Scouts, the band boosters, and helped with Sunday school at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mattydale, N.Y.
She is survived by her husband, Henry Schlagenhauser; two daughters and their husbands, Harriett and Richard Yanero and Katherine and Gerald Farmer, all of Dover; two brothers, Clayton A. Carroll Jr. of Brook Heaven, Pa., and James E. Carroll of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and five sisters, Margaret J. McConnell of Huntington Park, Calif., Eleanor May Beth Nealy of Trainer, Pa., Majorie Kicak of Alexandria, Va., Audrey Jane Blossic of Glen Mills, Pa. and Lorraine Flemming of Maine.
Mrs. Schlagenhauser also is survived by 10 grandchildren, Richard J. Yanero and his wife, Laura of Felton, Kenneth A. Yanero and his wife, Lori of Dover, Paul B. Yanero of Dover, Diana F. Gosnell of Dover, Sara K. Devine and her significant other, Sean M. Lyon, Stephen K. Devine Jr., Arthur C. Devine, Tyler A., Theresa K., and Gerald W. Farmer, all of Dover; six great-grandchildren, Kenneth R. and Terren A. Yanero of Dover, Ashley R. Gosnell of Dover, Erika and Taylor, both of Felton and Preston M. Lyon of Dover.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Schlagenhauser’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 92 Reads Way, Suite 205, Wilmington, DE 19720.
Gerard J. ‘Jerry’ Smith Sr.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Gerard J. “Jerry” Smith Sr., 60, of Dover, was celebrated Monday, July 30, at the Church of the Holy Cross, Dover. Mr. Smith died July 25, 2007, at his home with his family in attendance.
Born in Darby, Pa., he was the son of the late Herbert and Marie Devlin Smith.
Mr. Smith had been a member of the Plumber’s Union Local No. 690 of Philadelphia and retired in 2001. He moved from Oxford, Pa. to Dover in 2003.
Mr. Smith had served as vice president of the Planters Run Homeowners Association and was truly well liked by those he befriended.
He had enjoyed motorcycle riding and was especially fond of flying recreational aircraft.
Mr. Smith will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lynn Anne Daly Smith of Dover; a son, Gerard “Jerry” Smith Jr. of Oxford, Pa.; a daughter and son-in-law, Meg Smith and Michael Esser of Landenberg, Pa.; two brothers and their wives, Herb B. and Joan Smith of Chadds Ford, Pa., and Joseph B. and Diane Smith of Broomall, Pa.; two grandsons, M. Wyatt and Dieter Esser of Landenberg, Pa.; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Smith’s name may be made to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901; or to the National Brain Tumor Association, 22 Battery St. Suite 612, San Francisco, CA 94111-5520.
Emma O. Spohn
Celebration of life services for Emma O. Spohn, 80, of Dover, were held Saturday, July 28, in the home of her daughter and son-in law, Tonda and Joe Parks. Mrs. Spohn died after a long and wonderful life Tuesday, July 24, 2007, in her home.
Mrs. Spohn was born April Fools’ Day 1927, in Speedwell, Va., daughter of the late Robert G. and Mary B. Thomas.
She was married in December 1955 to Charles J. Spohn, and they raised their six children in New Castle.
After her husband’s premature death in 1981, Mrs. Spohn helped raise many of her grandchildren in Seaford and Dover.
She lived for many years at State Street Assisted Living, Dover, where she had countless friends and was known for her sense of humor, which will be greatly missed.
Mrs. Spohn enjoyed her family - most especially her grandchildren - and bowling, camping, traveling and her sweets. She will be missed by her incredibly large family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles J. “Chick” Spohn; a son, John A. Spohn; and a granddaughter, Kimberly A. Spohn.
Mrs. Spohn is survived by five of her six children, James C. Thomas, Robert B. Spohn and Sheree M. Spohn, all of New Castle, Tonda L. Parks and her husband Joseph G. of Dover, and Linda D. Herring of Pasadena, Md.; a loving daughter-in-law, Karen L. Spohn of Dover; her only sister, Maude Mezzatesta of New Castle; 14 grandchildren, Frank, Angel, Deralynn, Aaron, Nicki, Diana, Jason, Lindsay, Harry, James Jr., Sean, Heather, John-Russell and Lisa; and 21 great-grandchildren.
In the hope that she would help others, she donated her body to Philadelphia’s Gift to Humanity for anatomical study and research.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Spohn’s name may be made to the American Heart Association–Kent Division, 1151 Walker Road, Suite 202, Dover, DE 19904.
Richard G. West
A Mass of Christian Burial for Richard G. West, 55, of Harrington, was held Tuesday, July 7, in the Church of the Holy Cross, Dover. Mr. West died Thursday, June 28, 2007, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital from injuries suffered after being struck by a motor vehicle.
Mr. West was born in Easton, Md., son of Jean West of Dover and the late Melvin S. West.
He was a 1969 graduate of Seaford High School and graduated from Wesley College, Dover, in 1975. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in business in 1976 from Salisbury State College, now Salisbury University.
Mr. West served with the Army National Guard as a second lieutenant from 1970 to 1976.
He was employed with the state of Delaware for 31 years. At the time of his death, he was working with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control as a computer technician.
Mr. West was a motorcycle enthusiast and was planning a trip with his best friend, Steve, to travel through 48 states. He also enjoyed tole painting and the company of his family and friends.
He was a member of Holy Cross Parish, where he served as a lector for many years. When his children were growing up, he was involved with Little League and served as a scoutmaster for Troop 141 for several years. He was still involved with set construction for plays at Lake Forest High School. He was a member of the Iron Butts, a motorcycle club, and of the National Rifle Association.
In addition to his mother, Mr. West is survived by his wife of 29 years, Nancy D. West of Harrington; a son and daughter-in-law, Stephen M. and Lauren West of Harrington; a daughter, Leah M. West of Harrington; a brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and June West of Georgetown; four brothers-in-law and their wives, Michael Utley of Dover, Gary and Patty Utley of Woodside, Bill and Nancy Utley of Ocean City, N.J., and Scott and Deanie Utley of Middletown; a sister-in-law and her husband, Susan and Jim Conologue of Dover; and 11 nieces and nephews.
Interment was in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 92 Reeds Way, Suite 205, New Castle, DE 19720.
Walter M. Bell Sr.
Funeral services for Walter M. Bell Sr., 85, of Hartly, were held Tuesday, July 3, in the Trader Funeral Home, Dover. Mr. Bell died Thursday, June 28, 2008, in his home.
Mr. Bell was born July 27, 1921, in Dover, son of the late Herman and Matilda Hamilton Bell.
He was a World War II veteran of the United States Army.
Mr. Bell retired from the state of Delaware Highway Department after 25 years of dedicated service.
He loved playing horseshoes, bowling on a state league team and fishing. He was an avid Philadelphia Phillies fan.
Mr. Bell was a member of First Baptist Church, Dover.
He was preceded in death by a son, Walter M. Bell Jr.; and a daughter, Shirley A. Hazen.
Mr. Bell is survived by his wife of 60 years, Pearl L. Bell of Hartly; two daughters and a son-in-law, Marcia E. Bell of Hartly and Diane L. and William Evans of Magnolia; a son-in-law, Skip Hazen of Hartly; four grandsons, Tony Hazen, Jason Hazen, Matt Evans and Ryan Ridgeway; two granddaughters, Missy Wamble, Kristina Schweitzer and Stacey Wright; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Interment will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Bell’s name may be made to the First Baptist Church, 301 Walker Road, Dover, DE 19904.
