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.
WILMINGTON - The Honorable Philip D. Cloutier, Delaware Representative for the 11th District, died of cancer Friday, Sept. 4, 1998, in his home. He was 48.
Rep. Cloutier was born in 1949, in Ware, Mass.
He was a licensed professional engineer with a B.S. and a M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts.
He was a graduate of the Delaware Law School.
Rep. Cloutier was licensed to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
He had worked for DuPont for over 20 years.
He was a sourcing manager responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars worth of materials supplied by manufacturers from across the United States and around the world.
Rep. Cloutier's lifelong commitment to community service became public in 1982 when, as one of 10 civic association presidents, he opposed the rezoning of the Foulk Road School for a 22-story office building.
He was elected vice president of the Council of Civic Organizations of Brandywine Hundred (CCOBH), in 1986.
He was elected president of New Castle County Council in 1988.
Rep. Cloutier accumulated an unparalleled record of aggressive budget control and revolutionary land use legislation, during his four-year term.
He won the battle to establish limits on tax increases by New Castle County.
He exposed and sought to eliminate the taxpayer subsidy to the New Castle County Airport.
Rep. Cloutier led the fight to establish traffic standards for rezonings and subdivisions, to limit development in floodplans, wetlands, on steep slopes and in woodlands.
He led the fight to increase funding for public school discipline programs (HB247) by shifting priorities in education from New Directions and strict enforcement of the reporting requirements of HB85, during his first term in the General Assembly.
Rep. Cloutier advocated using vouchers to improve education and spending caps to strictly limit the growth of the state budget.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine Labonte Cloutier of Wilmington; his parents, Roland and Yvette Cloutier of Ware; three sisters, Pauline Reil, Lucille Pilch, and Germaine Vinskey, all of Ware; four brothers, Roland Cloutier of Westborough, Mass., Richard Cloutier of Springfield, Mass., Andre Cloutier of Ware, and Robert Cloutier of Newark; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnmephews.
Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Ware.
Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Charbonneau Funeral Home, Ware.
Delaware Memorial Service will be announced at a later date.
Burial will be in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Ware.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to The Honorable Philip D. Cloutier Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 4586, Wilmington, DE 19807.
Larry A. Dickerson, 55
SMYRNA - Larry A. Dickerson of Smyrna died Friday, Sept. 4, 1998. He was 55.
Mr. Dickerson was a 1961 graduate of Smyrna High School, serving as class president and playing football, baseball and basketball.
He attended Potomac State Junior College, earning his associate's degree in business administration.
He earned his bachelor's degree in education from West Virginia University in 1966.
Mr. Dickerson earned his master's degree from the University of Delaware in 1979.
He was a veteran of the Marine Corps for three-and-a-half years, serving a year in Vietnam as a platoon leader.
His platoon saw action in the DMZ (de-militarized zone) which was the furthest north you could go without being in North Vietnam.
Mr. Dickerson earned the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal for his service in Vietnam.
He received an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, leaving with the rank of captain.
He was a school teacher at Smyrna High School for 11 years.
He was vice principal at John Bassett Moore Middle School for 10 years.
Mr. Dickerson was principal at Clayton Elementary School for the last seven years, retiring earlier this year.
He was proud to be principal for the school district where he had attended first through eighth grade.
Mr. Dickerson was known for his leadership abilities and his warm, caring rapport he had with his students and staff.
He knew each student by his or her name.
He enjoyed sports and was involved in the Smyrna-Clayton Little League as a coach, the Smyrna-Clayton Pop Warner Football program, the Little Hoopsters Program, and at the high school level, he had been active in cross country, baseball, and junior varsity football.
He had been involved in organizing reunions for surviving platoon members, most recently.
Mr. Dickerson was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Barbara Foland Dickerson; two sons, Kevin A. Dickerson of Lewes, and Ryan A. Dickerson of Alexandria, Va.; his mother, Ann Dickerson of Smyrna; four brothers, Caleb Dickerson of Elsmere, Donald I. Dickerson and Kenneth W. Dickerson, both of Smyrna, and Barry J. Dickerson of Dover; four sisters, Judith Pollock of Pennsville, N.J., Donna Speed of Smyrna, Joanne Corso of Clayton, and Margie Schuman of Dover; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Asbury United Methodist Church, 22-24 W. Mount Vernon St., Smyrna, where friends may call from 6-9 p.m. Monday.
Burial will be private.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to The Clayton Elementary School Computer Fund, 510 W. Main St., Clayton, DE 19938.
Arrangements by Faries Funeral Directors Inc., Smyrna.
Mary Alice Pearce DeVane, 53
LEWES - Mary Alice Pearce DeVane of Lewes died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center. She was 53.
Ms. DeVane was born in Joplin, Mo., the daughter of the late Howard D. Pearce and Mary L. Pratt Pearce.
She was a graduate of Long Beach State University in Long Beach, Calif.
Ms. DeVane taught for the Sussex Elementary Consortium in Lewes.
She was working on her master's degree at Wilmington College.
Ms. DeVane was an active member of the YMCA in Rehoboth Beach, an involved member of the Special Olympics, a past member of the Kiwanis International, and a member of Epworth United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Jane T. Pearce, in 1970.
She is survived by a brother, Michael D. Pearce of Chestertown, Md.; an aunt and uncle, L. Elston Pearce and Julie O. Pearce, both of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and a niece and nephew, Heidi Pearce and Tommy Pearce, both of Chestertown.
Service and burial was private.
In memory of Mary Alice Pearce DeVane, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Delaware Hospice Inc., Southern Division, 600 DuPont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947; or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 5005 L.B.J. Freeway, Suite 370, Dallas, TX 75244.
Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Chestertown.
Beatrice Addie Hudson, 95
ROXANA - Beatrice Addie Hudson of Roxana died of heart failure Friday, Sept. 4, 1998, in Salisbury Nursing Home. She was 95.
Mrs. Hudson was the daughter of the late Wilmer Tingle and Mary Elizabeth Truitt Tingle.
She was employed by Snow White Laundry of Millsboro, before her retirement.
Mrs. Hudson was a member of St. George's United Methodist Church, Clarksville.
She was preceded in death by a son, Herman Glenn Parsons Jr., in 1972; a daughter, Elizabeth Rogers Atkinson, in 1991; four husbands, H. Glenn Parsons in 1949, John Powell in 1969, William Hudson in 1981, and Joseph Townsend; and a half-brother, George Layton, in 1969.
She is survived by a son-in-law, Richard S. Atkinson of Ocean City, Md.; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Service will be 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Chapel of Melson Funeral Services in Frankford, where friends may call one hour prior to service.
Burial will be in Dagsboro Redmens Memorial Cemetery, Dagsboro.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Dagsboro Redmens Memorial Cemetery, c/o Sarah Bunting, Dagsboro, DE 19939.
Madalyn Smith Richardson, 85
GEORGETOWN - Madalyn Smith Richardson of Georgetown died Friday, Sept. 4, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. She was 85.
Mrs. Richardson was born in 1913, in Georgetown, the daughter of the late Frank Eli Smith and Lottie Dodd Smith.
She was a 1930 graduate of Georgetown High School.
Mrs. Richardson was a school teacher at Stokely Country School from 1932-43.
She also was a school teacher at Georgetown Consolidated School until her retirement in 1970.
Mrs. Richardson was a member of the Georgetown Historical Society, a past member of the 10 member board of the Indian River School Board, and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, where she served on the church board for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Francis Richardson, in 1982.
She is survived by five cousins, H. Ross Smith of Delmar, Del., Jessie Dodd Wilkins of Milford, Mary Dodd Baker of Wilmington, Ruth Dodd Baxter of Georgetown, and Ronald F. Dodd of Georgetown.
Service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium Dodd-Carey Chapel, 307 N. Bedford St., Georgetown, where friends may call one hour prior to service.
Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Georgetown.
In memory of Madalyn Smith Richardson, the family suggests that contributions be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, Race St., Georgetown, DE 19947.
Thomas Joseph Kyle, 71
PALM CITY, Fla. - Thomas Joseph Kyle of Palm City died Saturday, Sept. 5, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes, Del. He was 71.
Mr. Kyle was born in 1927, in Philadelphia, the son of the late Robert Kyle and Margaret Kyle.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran.
He was a corporate owner of Visu-com. Inc., for 13 years, retiring in 1986.
Mr. Kyle was a member of the King David Masonic Lodge in Baltimore, a member of the Boumi Temple Shriners, a member of the Rehoboth Beach (Del.) Yacht & Country Club, a member of the Pipers Landing Country Club in Palm City, a member of the Talbot Country Club in Easton, Md., and a member of the Church of the Advent in Palm City.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Regina W. Kyle of Palm City; a son, Thomas Kyle of Las Vegas; three daughters, Susan Bevilacqua of Fords, N.J., Beth Ann Renfroe and Cynthia Goodnaugh, both of Las Vegas; two brothers, Robert V. Kyle of Oreland, Pa., and Edward Kyle of Bethlehem, Pa.; a sister, Sister Mary Frances Kyle of Camden, N.J.; and seven grandchildren.
Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at All Saints Episcopal Church, Rehoboth Beach, where Father James Manion will officiate.
Luncheon at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club will follow service.
Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. today at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes, Del.
Burial will be in Church of the Advent, Palm City.
In memory of Thomas Joseph Kyle, the family suggests that contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, 110 S. French St., Wilmington, DE 19803.
Donald Lee Keith Sr., 46
ELIZABETH, N.J. - Donald Lee Keith Sr. of Elizabeth and formerly of Delaware, died Saturday, Sept. 5, 1998, in his home. He was 46.
Mr. Keith was born in West Point, N.Y., the son of Claude Hill Keith Sr. and Faith Miholics.
He worked as a painter by trade.
He liked to express himself in art.
He also liked exotic pets, especially snakes and reptiles.
Mr. Keith will be sadly missed by his children and family.
He is survived by his mother, Faith Miholics of Pennsylvania; his father, Claude Hill Keith Sr. of Pennsylvania; two sons, Donald Lee Keith Jr. and Jessie Patrick Molesi, both of Felton, Del.; a daughter, Donna Sanders of Felton; an ex-wife, Rachel Smith of Felton; four brothers, Chris Keith, Jeff Keith, Claude Hill Keith Jr., and Terry Patrick Keith, all of Pennsylvania; three sisters, Faith Charlene Keith and Carol Wood, both of Pennsylvania, and Robin Keith of New Jersey; and five grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Melvin Funeral Home in Harrington, Del., where friends may call two hours prior to service.
Friends also may call from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Barratts Chapel, Frederica, Del.
Howard McCormick Teal Sr., 88
LEWES - Howard McCormick Teal Sr. of Lewes died Friday, Sept. 4, 1998, in his home. He was 88.
Mr. Teal was born in 1910, in Lewes, the son of the late William Teal and Elizabeth Teal.
He worked for the Right Away Division of the state of Delaware, retiring several years ago.
He is survived by a son, Howard M. Teal Jr. of Lewes; two daughters, Ann Lesorto of South Orleans, Mass., and Alice Teal; and a grandson.
Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Thursday in All Saints Cemetery, near Angola.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Lewes CHEER Center, Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
Carson R. 'Randy' Couden Sr., 43
WYOMING - Carson R. 'Randy' Couden Sr. of Wyoming died of cancer Sunday, Sept. 6, 1998, in his brother's home. He was 43.
Mr. Couden was born March 22, 1955, in Dover, the son of the late Norman and Mildred Lindell Couden.
He worked 20 years as a building contractor for Frank Robino of Wilmington. Most recently, he worked part-time for All-Rite Rubbish in Felton.
He is survived by two sons, Carson R. Couden Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Michael Lee of Upper Marlboro, Md.; five brothers, Richard W. Couden and his wife, Arlene, of Wyoming, with whom he lived, Wayne Couden of Omaha, Neb., Albert Couden of Newark, Morgan Couden of Wyoming and Dewitt Couden of Wyoming; seven sisters, Celeste Matson and Tish Couden, both of Omaha, Prudy Smith, Babette Couden and Dale Bartlett, all of Wyoming, Donna J. Couden of Dover and Gwen Thomas of North East, Md.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be noon today in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover. The Rev. Ron Wuest will officiate.
Friends may call at 11 a.m. today at Torbert Funeral Home, 61 South Bradford St., Dover.
Memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice Inc., 911 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Philip J. Lee, 84
LEWES - Philip J. Lee of Lewes died Monday, March 16, 1998, in the Park View Nursing Home. He was 84.
Mr. Lee was born in 1914, in Chester, Pa., the son of the late Frank Lee and Florence Boylin.
He was a Navy veteran in World War II.
Mr. Lee worked for the Sun Oil Co. for 37 years as a shift foreman and retired in 1966.
He attended St. Judes Catholic Church, Five Points; a member of Knights of Columbus, Christopher Council; 1st Degree Knight in Brandywine Club; a member of Lewes Senior Center.
He is survived by a daughter, Phyllis Bargelski of Wilmington.
Service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, at St. Jude's Catholic Church, Del. 1 & Five Points, Lewes, where Father Phillip Sheekey will officiate.
Friends may call 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday at the Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 1449 Kings Highway, Lewes.
Burial will be in the Henlopen Memorial Park, Milton.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Casa San Francisco Center, P.O. Box 38, Milton, DE 19966.
