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 Ella M. Simpson, 90, of Houston, were held Sunday, Jan. 8, in the Chapel of Houston United Methodist Church. Mrs. Simpson died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006 at Bayhealth Milford Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Simpson was born in Houston, daughter of the late Augustus and Belle Thistlewood Morgan.
She was a homemaker. Mrs. Simpson also was a member of the Houston United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women; a former member of the Milford New Century Club and former project leader of the 4-H club. She often volunteered for the Milford Hospital Auxiliary.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Francis G. Simpson in 1986; three sons, Andrew H Simpson, Richard A. Simpson and F. Wayne Simpson; two sisters, Edna P. Sapp, Frances Hart; and a brother, Franklin Morgan.
Mrs. Simpson is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Senator F. Gary and Debbie Simpson of Milford; three daughters-in-law, Dorothy Simpson of Charleston, W.Va., Joyce Simpson of Newark, Irena Simpson of Smyrna; 11 grandchildren, Andrew Simpson, Patty Garcia, Elizabeth Martin, David Simpson, Daniel Simpson, James Simpson, Tracey Dickinson, Kim Teague, Lindsay Goetz, Abby Simpson, Andrea Simpson; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Simpson’s name may be made to Houston United Methodist Church, PO Box 43, Houston, DE 19954.
Arrangements were by Berry-Short Funeral Home, Milford.
Florence Yetter Smith
Graveside services for Florence Yetter Smith, 87, of Dover, were held Friday, Jan. 6, at Presbyterian Church cemetery, Dover. Mrs. Smith died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006. at Capital Nursing Center, Dover, with her family by her side.
Mrs. Smith was born June 1, 1918, in Wilmington, daughter of the late William and Blanche McAdoo Yetter.
She was a graduate of Wilmington High School and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Delaware.
Mrs. Smith was retired from the State of Delaware, having served as Home Demonstration Agent with the University of Delaware Extension Service, first during World War II and again in the late 1950s. She taught home economics in the Caesar Rodney and Dover high schools, and was the first supervisor of food services for the Capital School District, retiring from that position in the early 1980s.
Mrs. Smith was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Dover, the Capital Grange, the Round Table Club of Wyoming-Camden and was a founding member of the Kent County Republican Women.
She enjoyed traveling, sewing, playing bridge and spending time with family and friends. She especially enjoyed summers at Shaw Park in Rehoboth Beach.
Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Yetter.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Mary Sue Smith of Dover; a daughter and son-in-law, Sallie and Mike Scarborough of Dover; and two grandchildren, Will and Margaret Ann Scarborough of Dover; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions in Mrs. Smith’s name may be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Association, Delaware Chapter, 2306 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19805.
John William ‘Jack’ Stevens Jr.
Funeral services for John William “Jack” Stevens Jr., 67, of Milford, were held Monday, Jan. 9, in Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover. Mr. Stevens died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006, in Christiana Care-Christiana Hospital, Newark.
Mr. Stevens was born June 19, 1938, in Wilmington, son of the late John W. Sr. and Margaret Altvater Stevens.
He was a veteran of the National Guard, having served for 7 1/2 years.
Mr. Stevens worked for 44 years for the Merit Oil Corp., now Hess Express, for 25 years in Cinnaminson, N.J. and the last 18 years in Dover, retiring as a manager in 2000.
He enjoyed playing computer games and was a Dale Jarrett NASCAR fan and an Philadelphia Eagles fan. He also loved spending time with his beloved dog, Lily.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Peggy Holveck.
Mr. Stevens is survived by his wife of 50 years, Virginia E. Moore Stevens of Milford; a son, John William Stevens III of Milford; a daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Dwyne Waltman of Dover; a brother and sister-in-law, Louis and Bonnie Stevens of Newark; five grandchildren, Billy Waltman, D.J. Waltman, Jennifer Stevens, John John Stevens and John Wilson; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for June E. Bravata, 80, of Dover, were held Friday, Dec. 23, in Trader Funeral Home, Dover. Ms. Bravata died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. Ms. Bravata was born June 3, 1925, in Dover, daughter of the late Anthony and Meta Laramore Bravata.
Ms. Bravata loved sports and was a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies. She had a passion for books and reading, and also enjoyed television and puzzles.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Robert A. Bravata.
She is survived by three sisters, Hazel B. Suchko of Dover, Rose B. Adams of Felton and Josephine Rowlinson of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and three great-great-nephews.
Memorial services for Mary E. Davis, 70, of Dover, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Wyoming and New Burton roads, Dover. Mrs. Davis died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mrs. Davis was born June 3, 1935, in Elkins W.Va., daughter of the late Theodore Antonio and Leona Bonnell Antonio Stultz.
Mrs. Davis worked in civil service as an engineering technician for the United States Air Force. She retired in July 1997 after 29 years of service.
She is survived by Charles A. Davis, her husband of 44 years; a daughter, Teresa Davis of Dover; a brother and sister-in-law, Dennise and Drista Stultz of Hagerstown, Md.; a sister, Linda Riego of Glennville, Ga.; a family friend, Jessica Raye of Glennville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapels, Dover.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest contributions be made to American Heart Association Kent County Division, 1151 Walker Road, Suite 202, Dover, DE 19904; or American Diabetes Association, Attn: Donations, 1660 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
William R. Dempsey Sr.
Remembrance services for William R. Dempsey Sr., 81, of Cheswold, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at the Cheswold Volunteer Fire Co., Cheswold, where friends may call two hours earlier. Mr. Dempsey died Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, in Silver Lake Center, Dover.
Mr. Dempsey was born Jan. 7, 1924, in Cheswold, son of the late James and Blanche McClain Dempsey.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, and had duty stations including North Africa, the invasion of Sicily, Italy, 2nd Beach Battalion, England, Salvage Group Normandy and on the ship U.S.S. Rankin, AKA-103.
He was a carpenter by trade and worked in Delaware with the Carpenters Local Union 626, with 50 years of service.
Mr. Dempsey enjoyed hunting and fishing, and spending time with his family at the summer home at Pickering Beach.
He was a member of Cheswold Volunteer Fire Co. with 54 years of service, having joined the fire company in 1951. He held the position of president emeritus, as well as various other positions.
Mr. Dempsey is survived by wife of 58 years, Mollie E. Hurley Dempsey; two sons and their wives, William R. “Dickie” Jr. and Dotty Dempsey, and Earle C. and Darla Dempsey, all of Cheswold; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Jeff Eisenbrey of Cheswold; a brother and sister-in-law, James and Becky Dempsey of Lewes; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Frances Remley of Dover, Mabel Forman of St. Georges, and Mary Jane and Fred Bell of Woodside; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.
Interment will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Cheswold Volunteer Fire Co.
Robert C. ‘Jimmy-Dale’ Farlow Sr.
Funeral services for Robert C. “Jimmy-Dale” Farlow Sr., 72, of Dover, were held Friday, Dec. 23, in Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dover. Mr. Farlow died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, in the Silver Lake Center nursing home, Dover.
Mr. Farlow was born Feb. 4, 1933, in Dover, son of the late Calvin L. and Elizabeth Sullivan Farlow.
He worked at the Firestone Tire and Service Center, Dover, and Delaware Tire, Newark, for several years. Before becoming ill, he was self-employed. He prided himself in being a mechanic and often helped friends and family in repairing their cars.
During recent years, Mr. Farlow overcame much adversity and was in and out of the hospital and nursing facilities.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Farlow Jackson and Ethel Farlow Deshields; and two brothers, Norris Farlow and David Farlow.
Mr. Farlow is survived by his wife, Doris Wilson Farlow; four sons, Walter Wilson, Robert Farlow, Calvin Farlow and Jimmy Farlow; a daughter, Tammy Farlow; his stepmother, Lillian Farlow; four brothers, Thomas E. Farlow, Mark Farlow, Marvin Farlow and Brian Farlow; and two sisters and their husbands, Eva M. and Nelson V. Harris and Alice Crump and Parent Deshields.
He also is survived by three aunts, Anna Mae Gould, Pauline Sullivan and Elizabeth Sullivan; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
