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Deacon Oscar Truitt Sr.,
retired security guard
Deacon Oscar Maurice Truitt Sr., 58, of Wilmington, formerly of Chester, Pa., died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, in St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington.
Mr. Truitt was born in Wilmington, son of the late Lenford and Hilda Perry Truitt He was a graduate of Howard High School, Wilmington
Mr. Truitt lived in Chester, Pa., before moving back to Wilmington.
He was a retired security guard at Gillpin Hall Nursing Home, Wilmington. Mr. Truitt was a deacon at Christian Tabernacle Church, Philadelphia.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Pete Truitt.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Richardson Truitt; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Shawn I. and Lorraine Truitt of Austin, Texas, Jabarr A. and Tia Truitt of Atlanta, Ga. and Oscar M. Truitt Jr. of Philadelphia; two brothers and two sisters-in-law, Lenford Jr. and Alberta Truitt and Luther and Harriett Truitt, all of Wilmington; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Joan and Francis Brown and Shirley Truitt, all of Wilmington; a niece whom he raised, Joan Bennett Truitt of Wilmington; an aunt, Blanche Painter of Lewes; a mother-in-law, Reba Richardson Jackson of Chester, Pa.; six grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Services were held in Greater Mount Calvary Temple, 11th and Lumbard streets, Wilmington. Burial will be 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 29, in Delaware Veterans Memorial cemetery , Bear.
Arrangements by Earl L. Foster Funeral Home, Chester.
Connie J. White,
VFW auxiliary member
Connie J. White, 57, passed away suddenly Monday, Dec. 25, 2006, at her home.
Connie was a member of the ladies auxiliary of the VFW Post 838.
She is survived by her children, Tina Wolf and her husband, Dale, of Elkton, Md., J. P. White and his wife, Mandy, of Newark; stepdaughter Angel White, of Daytona Beach, Fla. Connie will be dearly missed by her grandchildren, Jack, Kylee, Luke, Anna Wolf, Jonica and Alyssa White; sisters Pauline E. Wilkerson, of Port Penn and Dolly Morris and her husband, Paul, of Milton and her partner, Keith Owens of Wilmington.
Family and friends are invited to Connie’s Life Celebration and viewing Friday, Dec. 29, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., at Cornerstone Methodist Church, 3135 Summit Bridge Rd., Bear. Her funeral service will begin at 10 a.m., with entombment immediately following in Cathedral cemetery , Wilmington.
In memory of Connie, a contribution may be made to “A Door Of Hope” 2884 Summit Bridge Rd., Bear, DE 19701.
Bernard G. Hassemer,
teacher, poet
Bernard G. Hassemer, 76, of Ocean View, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, Dec. 25, 2006 surrounded by his family.
He served with the United States Army during the Korean War.
Bernard received his bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and his master’s degree from Iowa State. He was the first science teacher at Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wis. in 1956. He was a long standing department chair for the science department at A.H.S. He developed a special course for advanced chemistry students and was admired by his peers and students alike. Bernie had many talents and interests, including stamp collecting.
He devoted his career to helping students learn and love chemistry. After retiring from Arrowhead in 1988 he and his wife moved to Delaware to be near the ocean, which they both loved.
He loved writing poetry in which he won many awards from Who’s Who of Poetry and was a member of the International Society of Poets. He was a devoted family man who endlessly worked to provide for his family.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Anna Mae Hassemer in 2005; his parents, Anton and Mary Kramshuster Hassemer; and sisters, Frances, Josephine, Philomine, Marie; and a brother, Antony.
He is survived by his children, Lynn Krier of Georgetown, Jane Hassemer of Pewaukee, Wis., Patti West and husband James of Ocean View, John Hassemer of Hartland, Wis.; a brother, Edward Hassemer and his wife Verdine; sister, Margurite Smith; sister-in-law, Rita Hassemer; three grandchildren; two great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and adopted family from the Philippines, Rapunzel and Rosary Morales.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 2 p.m., Friday Dec. 29, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bethany Beach. Friends may call on Friday from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. at the Bethany Chapel of Melson Funeral Services on West Avenue in Ocean View. Interment will be in Mariner’s Bethel cemetery
in Ocean View.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Lung Association, 1021 Gilpin Ave, Wilmington, DE. 19806.
Rev. Priscilla Maxham,
Milford pastor
Rev. Priscilla “Cilla” Maxham, 66, of Milford, passed away Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, at home, with her children at her side after a courageous battle with cancer.
Rev. Maxham was born Jan. 18, 1940 in Barre, Vt., the daughter of Blanche Corliss Maxham and the late Earl M. Maxham.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Christian education from Drew University; her master’s degree in pastoral counseling from LaSalle University; and her master’s of divinity from Lancaster Theological Seminary.
While still pursuing her degree in theology, she held the position of associate pastor for the First United Methodist Church in Lancaster. After graduating, Rev. Maxham was assigned to the Ebenezer Methodist Church in Lebanon, Pa. as its pastor, where she served from 1997 until her transfer in 1999 to Milford, to serve as associate pastor of Avenue United Methodist Church.
Rev. Maxham became affectionately known as Rev. Cilla by most of the congregation and was very active in many aspects of the church’s activities. She was instrumental in working with other church members and health care professionals to organize a Health and Family Ministries program at Avenue, which still flourishes at present and benefits many people in the congregation and the community. She retired in 2005 from full-time duties at Avenue but remained on a part-time basis as pastor of congregational care. Her warm smile and tenderness were certainly a blessing to the many people to whom she ministered.
The Rev. Maxham was a member of the United Methodist Women and a member of the Milford-Lincoln Ministerium.
She is survived by a son, Christopher “Chris” E. Wooters of Giessen, Germany; a daughter, Cheri W. Will and her partner, Nancy S. Will of Lewes; her mother, Blanche Maxham of Ft. Myers, Fla.; a brother and sister-in-law, David and Maida Maxham of Swanton, Vt.; four grandchildren, Courtney Will, Daniel Murdock, Haley Will and Noa Siemon; and her Avenue church family.
Services will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 28, at Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church Street, Milford, where friends may call after noon. Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Avenue Methodist Church, Health Ministries, 20 N. Church Street, Milford, DE 19963. Arrangements by Rogers Funeral Home, Milford.
Jean Anthony Stork,
retired from Met Life
Jean Anthony Stork, 80, of Milford and formerly of Brentwood, N.Y., died Friday, Dec. 22, 2006, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Stork was born May 15, 1926, in New York, N.Y., son of the late Joseph and Katherine I. Krupp Stork.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was an insurance salesman for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in Suffolk County, N.Y. for 21 years before retiring in 1985. He then worked as a salesman for the Meenan Oil Co., covering the Long Island area for five years before retiring in 1990 and moving to Milford.
He was a member of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church and was a very active member of the Blue Hen Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6483, Milford, where he held many offices, up to the position of senior vice commander; he also served on the post’s house committee.
During the holidays, Mr. Stork was known for taking money donated by the VFW and delivering it to poor families in need during the Christmas holidays.
He was very savvy on his computer and enjoyed making music CDs for friends and family. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, Veronica.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Veronica Suss Stork; a son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Maribeth Stork of Corydon, Ind.; a daughter, Linda Mary St. Chante of Ithaca, N.Y.; and a grandson, Max St. Brown of Ellensburg, Wash.
Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 27, in Lofland Funeral Home, 102 Lakeview Avenue, Milford. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 27, in St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Seabury Avenue and School Place, Milford. Burial will be private in Delaware Veterans Memorial cemetery , Millsboro.
Contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association, 600 N. DuPont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947.
Mary Elizabeth Cook,
retired from Draper
Mary Elizabeth Mitchell Cook, 80, of Milton, died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, in Milford Memorial Hospital.
She was born Oct. 13, 1926, in Washington, N.C., daughter of the late Dora Williams Lucas and Alester Crander. Mrs. Cook worked at Draper Canning Co. for 21 years until she became ill.
She was preceded in death by a son, William Day; two brothers, James Hopkins and Willie Williams; and a great-granddaughter, Jack’Kia Mitchell.
She is survived by seven children, Robert Mitchell, Rosa Mitchell, Mary Washington and Gladys Cook, all of Milton, Dora Brittingham of Ellendale and John Cook and his wife, Linda of Millsboro; a grandson she raised, Thomas Mitchell and his wife, Cynthia of Georgetown; 35 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; 22 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of extended family and friends.
Funeral services were held in Mount Zion Holiness Church, Milton, with burial in Old Hickory cemetery , Slaughter Neck. Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Milford.
Beth Ann Bullard,
USF graduate
Beth Ann Bullard, 53, of Lewes died Friday, Dec. 22, 2006, in Lewes Convalescent Center.
Ms. Bullard was born Oct. 13, 1953, in Highland Park, Mich., daughter of May (Brittingham) Shepard of Bethany Beach and the late Donald E. Bullard Sr.
She was a 1982 graduate of the University of South Florida at Tampa with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences.
Ms. Bullard moved to Delaware from Paramus, N.J. She loved children and pets, and was a very charismatic person.
She is survived by her mother and stepfather, May (Brittingham) Shepard and Dr. William D. Shepard of Bethany Beach; two brothers and two sisters-in-law, Robert W. and Jo Ann Bullard of Newton, N.J., and Donald E. Jr. and Catherine Bullard of Stafford, Va.; and four nieces, Amanda, Rebecca, Deanna and Leah.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, in Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes. Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, in St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, at Five Points, Lewes. The Rev. Jim Hreah will officiate. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven cemetery , Dagsboro. The family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice, Southern Division, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.
J. Raymond Simpler,
contractor, golfer
Joseph Raymond Simpler, 87, of Rehoboth Beach, died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes.
Raymond was an outdoorsman, a history buff and a champion golfer, who took up the sport at age nine when he started as a caddy at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Then located in downtown Rehoboth, the back door of Mr. Simpler’s family’s Christian Street home looked out on the golf course, where the second tee sat about 200 feet away. He caddied until he was 19 years old and later became a member of the club.
He authored a history of the Rehoboth Beach Country Club for its 75th anniversary. The article was published in the Cape Gazette in August 2000 and recalls many of Mr. Simpler’s memories. His best score on the club’s original course was in the 1930s when he scored a 67, accomplished in part by six consecutive birdies. His best on the current golf course was a 71, played in 1965.
He competed regularly in the Delaware Amateur Open golf tournament. He won club championship matches in 1954 and 1955.
Believing that golf was a walking sport, especially during tournaments, he never rode in a golf cart in 28 years of tournament play, except for a benefit for Lewes Meals on Wheels.
In the anniversary article, Mr. Simpler wrote that as he got older, he stopped keeping score. “At age 80, I look on my golf as a way of making a walk more interesting.”
A Rehoboth native, he graduated from Rehoboth High School in 1938 and attended the University of Delaware.
He served in the Army Signal Corps in World War II and was stationed at Hickam Field, Hawaii, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. A self-employed building contractor, Mr. Simpler took great pride in his work. He retired in 2000 at the age of 80.
He was the Rehoboth Beach Country Club’s longest active member. Mr. Simpler also was a member of the Peninsula Golf Association, Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth and the Rehoboth Historical Society.
Survivors include his loving wife of 48 years, Irene K. Simpler; three nieces, Shirley Dawson of Lewes, Donna Miller of Wilmington, and Barbara Kay Alexander of Petaluma, Calif.; two nephews, Michael DeLoy, of Milton, and George William Maloney, of Alamo, Calif., and several great-nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 29, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 8 Olive Avenue, Rehoboth Beach. A reception will follow at the church.
Contributions can be sent to Delaware State Golf Association Scholarship Fund, 240 West Side Dr., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes.
Mary V. ‘GG’ Ryan,
family matriarch
Mary V. “GG” (Duncan) Ryan of Smyrna, 91, formerly of Holloway Terrace, New Castle, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, in her daughter’s home in Lewes.
Mrs. Ryan was born July 8, 1915, in Wilmington, daughter of the late Francis and Frances (Peoples) Duncan.
She was a talented homemaker and greatly enjoyed crocheting beautiful pieces to share with family and friends. A loving mother and grandmother, she delighted more than anything in caring for and spending time with her beloved grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Walter T. “Toby” Ryan Sr., in 1992; three brothers, Edward Duncan, Joseph Duncan and Francis Duncan; a sister, Elizabeth Burns; a daughter-in-law, Barbara Ryan; and a son-in-law, Albert W. McCall Jr.
She is survived by four sons and three daughters-in-law, Theodore W. “Toby” Jr. and Shirley Ryan of Townsend, Raymond F. “Reds” Ryan, and James W. Sr. and Mary Ann Ryan, all of Smyrna, and Robert E. and Margaret Ryan of Odessa; two daughters and a son-in-law, Marianne V. and William Taylor of Newark, and Sheila M. McCall of Rehoboth Beach; two sisters-in-law, Betty Duncan of Gurnee, Ill., and Anna Mae Rogers of Millsboro; 17 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held in Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, New Castle, with burial in Gracelawn Memorial Park, New Castle.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice, Southern Division, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.
Melvin Donald Barrett,
retired state worker
Melvin Donald Barrett, 74, of Georgetown died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, in the Milford Center.
Mr. Barrett was born in Wilmington, son of the late Melvin and Mary (Evans) Barrett.
He was a 1973 graduate of Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga.
He worked for the state of Delaware, State Service Center, Georgetown. He retired in 1995 as a coordinator after 20 years of service. He taught classes for the Delaware Safety Council. He left as Brookside chief of police in the late 1980s.
Mr. Barrett enjoyed camping, traveling, especially to different NASCAR tracks, genealogy and Civil War history. He loved Siamese cats.
He is survived by his wife and best friend, Debbie Barrett; six children and their spouses, Jill and Mike Kenney of Salisbury, Md., Jodie and Charles Galate of Atlanta, Jason and Wanda Barrett of Fort Benning, Ga., Susan and Todd Mitchell of Milton, Laurie and Gene Handlin of Ocean View and Jordan Barrett of Reston, Va.; a brother, Charles Barrett of Lewes; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Services were held in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, Georgetown, with burial in Union cemetery , Georgetown.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgetown Regional Office, P.O. Box 625, Georgetown, DE 19947.
