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.
Home Going services for Erwin Basil Gardner, 52, of Dover, were held Monday, Jan. 30, in the Happy Home Baptist Church, Allendale, S.C. Mr. Gardner died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006, in his home.
Mr. Gardner was born Sept. 23, 1953, in Allendale, the son of Thomasena H. Gardner of Dover and the late Leon F. Gardner Sr.
He attended school in Allendale, graduated from the C.V. Bing High School in 1970 and attended the Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va. He later transferred to Delaware State University, where he was a member of the concert choir. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from DSU in 1975.
Mr. Gardner spent more than 20 years teaching in the Allendale public school system.
His pleasing personality endeared him to people from all walks of life, and his artistic talent was evident both in and out of the classroom. He enjoyed singing and delighted in singing at the Happy Home Baptist Church, where he grew up.
While living in Dover, Mr. Gardner had faithfully attended the New Jerusalem Baptist Church since December 2004.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a sister, Carolyn V. Gardner.
In addition to his mother, Mr. Gardner is survived by two brothers and their wives, Leon F. Jr. and Carol Gardner of Dover, and Edward and Maria Gardner of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; a sister-in-law, Gloria M. Gardner of Dover; three nieces, Sonya Garner and Davita Gardner, both of Dover, and Carole L. Gardner of New York; two nephews, Leon F. Gardner III and his wife, Tina, of Felton and Tony Gardner of Kissimmee, Fla.; an uncle, Robert Hammond of Marion, S.C.; and a host of cousins and friends.
Local arrangements were by Bennie Smith Funeral Homes, Dover.
Lillian Goldberg
Lillian Goldberg, 81, of Dover died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, in Westminster Village, Dover.
Mrs. Goldberg was born Jan. 20, 1925, in Brooklyn, N.Y., daughter of the late David and Beatrice Green Levine.
She was a homemaker who enjoyed baking, cooking, knitting, sewing and gardening, and especially loved being with her grandchildren.
She is survived by Paul Goldberg, her husband of 58 years; two daughters and their husbands, Sherri and Barry Hershfeld of Baltimore and Carol and Bob Derespinis of Queens, N.Y.; and four grandchildren, Dean Goldberg, Loni Goldberg, Brian Hershfeld and Jessica Hershfeld.
Services will be private.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover.
Clara M. Jarrell
Funeral services for Clara M. Jarrell, 89, of Viola, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the Chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, Main Street, Felton, where friends may call two hours earlier. Mrs. Jarrell died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, in Capitol Nursing Home, Dover, where she had lived for the past four years.
Mrs. Jarrell was born Aug. 2, 1916, in Viola, daughter of the late Charles and Lula Rentz Dill.
She worked on the farm she owned with her late husband, Virgil N. Jarrell.
Mrs. Jarrell enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, especially growing violets and roses.
She was a member of the Felton-Viola United Methodist Church, the Viola Methodist Women’s Society and the Felton Avon Club and was a life member of the Felton Volunteer Fire Co. Ladies’ Auxiliary.
In addition to her parents and husband, who died in August 1986, she was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Dill; and a sister, Elizabeth Dill.
Mrs. Jarrell is survived by a daughter, Barbara A. Jarrell of Dover; a son and daughter-in-law, Ronald W. and Carol E. Jarrell of Viola; eight grandchildren, Randall J. Myers and his wife, Janice, of Newark, Ryan J. Myers and his wife, Stephanie Pearson, M.D., of Wilmington, Erin K. Myers of New York City, Adam Jarrell and his wife, Jana, of Magnolia, Kyle Jarrell of Felton, and Heather Jarrell, Rebecca Jarrell and Kristen Jarrell, all of Viola; and two great-grandchildren, Emily R. Myers and Matthew J. Myers.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Jarrell’s name may be made to the Felton-Viola United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 247, Felton, DE 19943.
Nora Alice Mikell
Graveside services for Nora Alice Mikell, 89, of Dover, were held Friday, Feb. 10, at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden. Mrs. Mikell died Tuesday Feb. 7, 2006, at home.
Mrs. Mikell was born Aug. 9, 1916, in Ridgely, Md., daughter of the late Lester and Agnes Rash Smith.
She graduated from Claymont High School in 1934 and moved to Delaware in 1938.
Mrs. Mikell was preceded in death by Stanley C. Mikell, her husband of 60 years, in October 1997.
She is survived by her son, Stanley Mikell Jr., and her daughter, Phyllis Mikell, both of Dover.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapels, Dover.
Thom Arthur Parman
A Mass of Christian Burial for Thom Arthur Parman, 49, of Dover, was celebrated Saturday, Feb. 11, in the Church of the Holy Cross, Dover. Mr. Parman died suddenly Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, in his home.
Mr. Parman was born June 30, 1956, in Palm Beach, Fla., the son of Earl F. and Joan Parman.
He was a 1974 graduate of Dover High School and attended Delaware Technical & Community College. He was a six-year veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Colorado and Germany before his honorable discharge as a specialist 4 in 1985.
Mr. Parman was working as the financial adviser for Winner Ford, Dover, at the time of his death.
He was devoted to his wife and daughter, and was a cherished son and beloved brother and uncle. He remained close to his siblings and extended family alike. He had an amazing enthusiasm for life and music. He was a talented guitarist and athlete, as well as a striving golfer. He was a passionate Philadelphia sports fan.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Parman is survived by his wife, Gina Rothermel Parman; a daughter, Alexandra Marie Parman; a brother and sister-in-law, Kevin and Donna Parman of Abbottstown, Pa.; twin sisters and a brother-in-law, Deni Moore and Joe Barbutes of Dover, and Dey Murray of Camden; two nieces, Kaylyn Parman and Kendall Parman, both of Abbottstown; and two nephews, Jon A. Murray IV of Camden and Christian Moore of Dover.
Interment was in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Parman’s name may be made to the Alexandra Parman Scholarship Fund, c/o Wilmington Trust, 1001 Walker Road, Dover, DE 19904.
Arrangements were by Trader Funeral Home, Dover.
Edna Elizabeth Johns Scholfield
Funeral services for Edna Elizabeth Johns Scholfield, 51, of Cincinnati, formerly of Dover, were held Saturday, Feb. 11, in Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover. Mrs. Scholfield died Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, in Cincinnati.
Mrs. Scholfield was born June 1, 1954, in Dover, daughter of Stanford M. Johns and the late Ella Marie Hawkins Johns.
She was a graduate of Dover High School.
Mrs. Scholfield worked at several different jobs including McDonald’s, where she was a manager.
She moved to Cincinnati in 1995, and lived there until her death.
In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph G. Johns and William L. Johns; and a sister.
In addition to her father, Mrs. Scholfield is survived by seven brothers and three sisters-in-law, John M. and Flora Johns, Albert M. and Wanda Johns, Philemon G. Johns, Charles W. and Sue Johns, Mark M. Johns; Stanford Demby of Maryland and Dylan Guy of Dover; five sisters and a brother-in-law, Jeraldine M. and Reginald Heath, Ella R. Johns, Audrey P. Johns, Daisy M. Johns and Darlene Johns; two aunts, Elsie Taylor and Martha Bridles of Dover; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and Donald B. Scholfield and Michael Evans.
Funeral services for Olin T. Seward, 75, of Hartly, will be held at noon, Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, where friends may call two hours earlier. Mr. Seward died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Seward was born July 28, 1930, in Kenton, son of the late George and Edna Hay Seward.
He retired as a school bus contractor for Capital School District after 32 years. He also had owned and operated Seward’s Store in Hartly with his wife for 45 years.
Mr. Seward enjoyed going to Dover Downs and playing the slots. Early in life, he loved the outdoors and camping.
He was a lifetime member of the Hartly Fire Co., and the Camden-Wyoming Moose Lodge.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, George Seward and Wilson Seward; and three sisters, Beatrice Steele, Marie Swiggett and Hazel Gosch.
Mr. Seward is survived by Betty Seward, his wife of 57 years; two sons and their wives, Thomas H. and Sandi Seward of Marydel, Md., and Donald R. and Sandra Seward of Hartly; and two daughters and their husbands, Diane and Jake Gingerich, and Barbara and Joseph Forrest, all of Hartly.
He also is survive by a sister, Madeline Wooleyhan of Templeville, Md.; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Instead of flowers, memorial contributions in Mr. Seward’s name may be made to the Hartly Fire Co., P.O. Box 28, Hartly, DE 19953.
Betty Jane Noerr Spear
Betty Jane Noerr Spear, 84, of Dover, died of complications from a stroke, Feb. 13, 2006.
Mrs. Spear was born Aug. 25, 1921, in Punxsutawney, Pa., daughter of the late George F. and Fern Brunner Noerr.
As a young girl, Mrs. Spear moved with her parents to Lewistown, Pa., where her father was the owner of Noerr’s Trucking Garage. She graduated from Lewistown High School.
She was united in marriage Aug. 18, 1940, to Jack C. Spear. After her husband’s return from U.S. Army service in World War II, the couple forged a 30-year military life together, traveling to Guam, Hawaii, Newfoundland, Panama, New Mexico and Delaware, among other places. After Mr. Spear’s retirement from the Air Force, they established homes first in Hampton, Va., and then in Dover.
Mrs. Spear pursued her life-long love of learning by taking college courses wherever she lived. She was an avid writer and reader and was a licensed practical nurse and an assistant librarian who helped open the first library at Dover Air Force Base.
She loved to explore the many places where she lived and developed an appreciation of nature. The Delaware State Museum now houses her collection of seashells. From her many travels, she gathered fine collections of antique dolls, appliqué Molas from Panama and woodcarvings.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, George Noerr Jr.
Mrs. Spear is survived by her husband, retired USAF Senior Master Sgt. Jack Spear; her daughter, Cathy Spear of Dover; and her son and daughter-in-law, Jack G. Spear and his wife, Antonia Ballare of Montclair, N.J.
She also is survived by four grandchildren, Jennifer Wallace of Newark, Adam Leiter of Wilmington, Katy Davis of Dover and Elizabeth Ballare of Montclair; two great-grandchildren, Julia Rose Wallace and Adam Tuxward; a brother William Noerr of Lewistown; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends from around the world.
In keeping with her belief that life belongs to the living, Mrs. Spear donated her body to scientific research. The family will hold a private memorial service.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Mrs. Spears’ memory may be sent to Kent County S.P.C.A., 32 Shelter Circle, Camden, DE 19934.
Local arrangements were by the Trader Funeral Home, Dover.
