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Irene Jean Stephens,
Ladies Auxiliary member
Irene Jean Stephens, 70, of Lewes, passed away peacefully at Beebe Medical Center Tuesday, May 9, 2006. She was born June 1, 1935, in Rockport, Mass., daughter of the late Irving L. Boudrow and Sylvia H. Boudrow.
Jean had retired from Delmarva Power in 1994 after 25 years of service. She had been active in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars serving Post 7447 of Rehoboth Beach and had also served as department president of the Delaware State Ladies Auxiliary.
She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 50 years, Horace C. Stephens Jr.; and her children - David Stephens Kelso of New York City; Craig Stephens Sr. and his fiancée Lisa Brittingham; and daughter Melanie Wingate and her husband Lou; grandchildren - Craig Stephens Jr., Robert Stephens, Joshua Wingate, Andrew Sheppard, Matthew Butcher, Chase Brittingham and Bailey Wingate, all of Lewes.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 13, at Parsell Funeral Home & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where family and friends may call one hour prior to services. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired, Herman M Holloway Sr. Campus, Biggs Building, 1901 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720.
Robert Ezra Williams,
Marine Corps veteran
Robert Ezra Williams, 86, of Rehoboth Beach, died Thursday, May 11, 2006, at Brandywine Assisted Living in Rehoboth Beach.
Mr. Williams was born Aug. 21, 1919, to the late Lyle and Eda Blaser Williams in Rexburg, Idaho.
Mr. Williams retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a conservationist in 1975. He was the director of the Plant Sciences Division, responsible for field services activities in agronomy, forestry, mined land reclamation, plant materials, range management and wildlife biology.
Throughout his lifetime he received many awards, including the Potomac Corral Western Man in 1968 and the Citation of Appreciation from the Audubon National Society, Central Atlantic States.
He was a fellow of the Society of Range Management in 1978, and he earned the National Association of Conservation District Professional Service Award in 1985.
His hobbies and activities were family, reading, fishing, serving as president of ARSCSE, and working in his church- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was a Marine Corps veteran:
Mr. Williams is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lillian Nielson Williams; one son - David Larry Williams and wife Janice of Port Charlotte, Fla.; two daughters - Debra Cooper and husband William of Ocean View and Linda Warner and husband Michael of Manassas, Va.; one sister - Bonnie Dixon of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Robert James Williams; four brothers - Lyle, Steve, Ralph and Fred Williams; and two sisters - Lucille Williams and Jan Hoffman.
A service will be at 11 a.m., Monday, May 15, at Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call one hour prior.
Interment will be at Delaware Veterans Memorial cemetery , Millsboro, Delaware
David G. Samworth,
retired mason
David G. Samworth, 81, of Wilmington, passed into eternity to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mr. Samworth was a retired mason with Samworth Construction Company. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of three years during WWII, serving in the Mediterranean on the USS Tatnall. He was a member and deacon in the Community Fellowship Church in Wilmington. Mr. Samworth was an avid photographer; his passions were covered bridges and lighthouses of the East Coast and Lancaster County.
David is survived by his brother, Thomas Samworth of Seaford; two nephews and nieces, Richard Samworth of Rehoboth Beach, Eleanor Samworth of Sarasota Springs, N.Y., Elizabeth Truitt, of Brattleboro, Vt. and Robert Samworth of Cape Canaveral.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 9, at the McCrery Memorial Chapel, 3710 Kirkwood Highway at Duncan Rd., where family and friends may call at 10 am. Burial will follow in Silverbrook cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Community Fellowship Church, 200 Armstrong Ave., Wilmington, DE 19808.
Edna Erie Hostedler,
active church member
Edna Erie Hostedler, 79, of Lincoln, died Wednesday, May 3, 2006, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Hostedler was born April 20, 1927, in Clearwater, Fla., daughter of the late Willie and Johnnie Mae (Ragans) Zipperer.
She was very active in Lincoln United Methodist Church for more than 50 years. She was the head barbecue chef during the many years the church had chicken barbecues to raise money for the church building fund.
Mrs. Hostedler also enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting and crocheting.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold E. Hostedler, in 1981; a daughter, Joyce E. Hostedler, in 2004; and a brother, Walter Zipperer.
She is survived by two sons and two daughters-in-law, Richard and Shelly Hostedler of Lincoln, and Ernest and Bonnie Hostedler of Milford; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Donna and John Walls of Slaughter Beach, and Patricia and Ray Parsons of Federalsburg, Md.; 16 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held in Lofland Funeral Home, 102 Lakeview Ave., Milford, with burial will be in Lincoln cemetery , Lincoln.
Instead of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309 Dallas, TX 75265-0309.
Catharine L. Conaway,
retired from Arrow
Catharine L. Conaway, 89, of Georgetown, died Friday, May 5, 2006, in Milford Center.
Mrs. Conaway was born in Georgetown, daughter of the late Roy E. and Lillie Mae (Hickman) Wilkerson.
She was an assembly line worker for Arrow Safety Device, Georgetown, retiring in 1979 after 20 years. She loved to quilt, garden and camp.
Mrs. Conaway attended Georgetown Wesleyan Church.
She is survived by a son and a daughter-in-law, Leroy and Mary Ellen Conaway of Laurel; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Patricia F. and Curt Foraker of Lincoln, and Carolyn L. and Ralph Watson of Georgetown; a brother, Dallas Wilkerson of Millsboro; eight grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday in Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call one hour earlier.
Burial will be in Henlopen Memorial Park, Milton.
Beatrice Simonds
advocated for the blind
Beatrice Simonds, of Whit’s Point near Millsboro, died Thursday, May 4, 2006, at home.
Mrs. Simonds was born in Georgetown to the late William Pusey and Ida Florence Pusey. She graduated from Georgetown High School, now Sussex Central, in 1932.
Bea was a secretary for I.D. Short and also a certified court reporter until 1951 when her husband was transferred to State Police Headquarters, New Castle. Since 1952, when she accepted a secretarial position with the Wilmington office of what was then called the Delaware Commission for the Blind, Bea dedicated her life to paving the way for blind and visually impaired Delawareans to have personal, social and financial independence.
That same year, she accepted the only itinerant teacher of the blind position in Kent and Sussex Counties, traveling to the homes of clients to provide instruction and equipment to enable them to function independently and to love productive lives. She assisted numerous individuals seeking employment by representing them to employees.
In 1964, Bea and her husband, Major Sterling Simonds, a State Police administrator who was second in command at the time of his retirement in 1962 due to illness, moved to Sussex County and lived at Gravel Hill. In 1973, she and her husband moved into her parents’ summer home on Whit’s Point along the Indian River, where she lived until the time of her death.
Bea officially retired in 1969, but was shortly thereafter named chairwoman of the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Blind and continued the lobbying she had done throughout her career in Legislative Hall. For 54 years, she was the driving force behind the increased awareness of the unique needs of legally blind Delawareans. She and her husband started the annual party for the blind in Wilmington and after moving to Sussex County, chaired the first event for the clients of Kent and Sussex County, sponsored by the Lions Club of Georgetown in 1965, which continued to 2002.
Bea was a tireless advocate for those with impaired vision and successfully lobbied the Delaware Legislature, annually requesting funding for the State Division of the Visually Impaired. Through Bea’s efforts, blind Delawareans are now permitted to serve as jurists and visually impaired individuals operate cafeterias and vending machines throughout state facilities. She successfully lobbied for state funds to be appropriated for technical equipment needed by visually impaired children throughout the state. Every June, Bea delivered an apple pie purchased by the Business Enterprise program of the DVI to each legislator in appreciation of their support.
In addition to her dedication to the cause of the visually impaired, Bea also was one of the original directors of, and served as fundraising chairperson of the Delaware State Police Museum Inc. She was also a highly respected local historian of Georgetown, having written the history of the postal service in Georgetown.
For her lifelong commitment and dedication to improving life for others, Bea was inducted as a member of the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame on March 18, 1998, and was presented the Order of the First State in 2000 by then-Gov. Thomas Carper, the highest award a governor can bestow on a Delaware citizen. In making the presentation he said, “Bea’s unparalleled leadership and tremendous energy have made all the difference for the visually impaired of Delaware.”
Perfect attendance in Georgetown School and never being tardy set a pattern which became a lifelong trademark.
Gov. Minner said, “Because of Bea Simonds, life has been made better for many Delawareans who are visually impaired, and her work will effect many generations to come.”
Bea was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Georgetown.
She was preceded in death in 1982 by her beloved husband of 43 years, Major Sterling Simonds.
She is survived by several cousins, many special friends and all of her beloved friends at the State Police and the Division for the Visually Impaired.
Services were held at Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro, with interment in Union cemetery , Georgetown.
Bea loved flowers and flowers are welcome, however for those who wish to contribute to a charity, contributions may be made to the Division of the Visually Impaired, Biggs Building, Holloway Campus, 1901 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle DE 19720 or the Delaware State Police Museum, P.O. Box 430, Dover DE 19901.
Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.
Catherine L. Conaway,
assembly line worker
Catherine L. Conaway, 89, of Georgetown, died Friday, May 5, 2006, at Milford Center, Milford.
She was born in Georgetown, the daughter of Roy E. and Lillie Mae Hickman Wilkerson.
She was an assembly line worker for Arrow Safety Device of Georgetown, retired in 1979 after 20 years.
She attended Georgetown Wesleyan Church. She loved to quilt, garden and camp.
She is survived by a son, Leroy Conaway and his wife Mary Ellen of Laurel; two daughters, Patricia Foraker and her husband Curt of Lincoln and Carolyn L. Watson and her husband Ralph of Georgetown; a brother, Dallas Wilkerson of Millsboro; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Services will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 9, 2006, at Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington Street, Millsboro, where friends may call one hour prior. Burial will be in Henlopen Memorial Park, Milton.
Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.
Joyce Hillis,
retired from Beebe
Joyce Hillis, 67 of Rehoboth Beach, passed away in her sleep at home Thursday, May 4, 2006, after a lengthy battle with lung cancer.
Mrs. Hillis was born Joyce Beatrix van der Pas April 12,1939 in Scheveningen, a beach resort and fishing village near the North Sea in the Netherlands.
Joyce relocated to America in 1963 and worked for the DuPont company in Wilmington. She married Robert Hillis and the couple had two sons and lived in the Wilmington suburb of Gwynhurst before moving to Rehoboth in 1978. She worked in the personnel department at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes for 22 years before retiring.
Joyce loved walking on the beach and watching the porpoises swim in the ocean; she also enjoyed her pets (including her cat, Casper), playing the piano and tending to her backyard flower beds and fish pond.
She was preceded in death by husband Robert, who passed away Jan. 5, 2006, as well as her parents, Jansje and Dirk van der Pas. She is survived by relatives including her sons, Cliff, of Phoenixville, Pa. and Roger, of Rehoboth, and their wives; her brothers, Jan Paul and Dick van der Pas and their wives, of Holland; and her sister-in-law, Doris Kee and her family of Wilmington.
A service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 9, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel,16961 Kings Highway in Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947 .
Harold B. Kauffman,
DuPont retireee
Mr. Harold B. “Hal” Kauffman, 77, of Wilmington, died on Tuesday, May 2, 2006.
Born in Philadelphia, Pa., on Dec. 2, 1928, Mr. Kauffman was the son of the late Walter Kauffman and Eva Clampffer Kauffman.
He enjoyed a 32-year career with the DuPont Company, retiring from the Experimental Station in Wilmington as a supervisor in 1985. A gifted singer from his youth, Mr. Kauffman was a member of the Wilmington chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. He sang bass for many years with The Regents and with them won the International Barber Shop Quartet Competition in Kansas City in 1974. Mr. Kauffman was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Millcreek and had been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Ann McNemar Kauffman; three sons, Robert B. Kauffman and his wife, Ginger, of Lewes, Jeffrey N. Kauffman and his wife, Nancy, of Birdsboro, Pa. and Mark B. Kauffman and his wife, Angela, of Newark; a brother, Walter D. Kauffman of Oklahoma City, Okla.; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services were held at St. James Episcopal Church, 2106 St. James Church Road, Wilmington, with interment in the adjoining church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to St. James Episcopal Church.
John Patrick Wooters,
retired truck driver
John Patrick “Pat” Wooters, 68, of Newark passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2006, in his home with his beloved wife by his side.
Mr. Wooters was born Feb. 19, 1938, in Smyrna, son of Sara R. Wooters and the late William Thomas Wooters Jr.
He was a retired professional truck driver.
He greatly enjoyed NASCAR racing.
Mr. Wooters will long be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother, who was a wonderful provider for his beloved family.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Martin Wooters; a daughter, Patricia Lynn Moss of Trainer, Pa.; a stepdaughter, Janette K. Koria of Newark; his mother, Sara R. Wooters of Milford; three sisters, Shirley Ann Bowden of Felton, Sara Catherine Dickerson of Milton, and Jean Doris Morgan of Milford; two granddaughters, Jennifer Moss and Wanda Williams; and a step-grandson, Cloud A. Calvetti.
A memorial was held in Kingswood United Methodist Church, Newark.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The John P. Wooters Memorial Fund, c/o Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 W. Park Place, Newark, DE 19711.
Arrangements by Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, Newark.
