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Helen R. McIlvaine,
worked for U.S. court
Helen R. McIlvaine, 94, of Rehoboth Beach, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at Harbor Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Lewes.
Ms. McIlvaine was born in Washington, D.C. and had been employed by the U.S. Court of Claims in Washington until her retirement.
She was predeceased by her parents, Luther J. and Loretta B. Llewellyn McIlvaine; her sisters Ethel M. Bram and Miriam E. Howard and a brother, Ceylon L. McIlvaine.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews and extended family who will miss her.
Services were private.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
Reynolds J. Harris Sr.,
retired social worker
Reynolds J. Harris Sr., 80, of Camden, departed this life Monday, March 19, 2007, at Bayhealth Medical Center, Dover.
He was the son of the late Isaac P. and Helen D. May Harris, and was born June 26, 1926.
Mr. Harris was educated in the Reeves Crossing public school in Felton, Booker T. Washington in Dover and Delaware State College. He graduated from Delaware Technical & Community College in Georgetown.
He was a member of M.F. Chase Unity Memorial Church in Star Hill, where he served as church treasurer and then as an ordained elder. He was a strong pillar of M.F. Chase who facilitated the construction of the new church building and ensured a smooth transition from the old to the new church facility. He was president of the men’s department. He established the annual men’s fundraiser known as the oyster feast. He was a member of the senior choir and the male choir.
Mr. Harris was employed at General Foods for several years. He retired as a state social worker after 20 years of service.
He enjoyed bowling, fishing, gardening and going to Spencer’s sale. Most of all, he loved singing with his brothers, the Harris and Hawkins Singers.
Mr. Harris was married to Marian Scott July 7, 1956. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends July 8, 2006.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one beloved sister, Louise Harris Pritchett; and two brothers, Isaac Jr. and Lester Harris.
He leaves to cherish his memory a loving and devoted wife, Marian Scott Harris; three sons, Lorenzo Clark and his wife Elaine of Charlotte, N.C., Reynolds Harris Jr. and his wife Sharon of Selinsgrove, Pa., and Garry Harris and his wife Yvonne of Corona, Calif.; four daughters, Helen Gladney of Wilmington, Jacquelyn Hill and her husband Andre of Camden, Janice Clark of Dover and Janell Barganier and her husband Rodney of Decatur, Ga.; six brothers, Charles Harris of Felton, William Harris of Lewes, James Harris and his wife Agnes of Dover, Nelson Harris and his wife Eva of Dover, Kenneth Harris and his wife Margaret of Dover and Paul Harris of Felton; 19 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws and friends.
Services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 24, in Bibleway Temple C.O.G.I.C., Dover, where friends may call two hours earlier.
Arrangements by Minus Funeral Home, Dover.
Edward Blodgett,
retired engineer
Edward Blodgett, 89, of Seaford, died March 7, 2007, at Bayhealth Medical Center-Milford Memorial Hospital, Milford.
Mr. Blodgett was born and raised in Ithaca, N.Y., son of the late Professor Forest M. and Elsa James Blodgett. He acquired a B.S. in engineering from Cornell University. He was a major in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked as an engineer for Eastman Kodak Co. in Rochester, N. Y.; for Sealright Co. in Fulton, N. Y.; and for H.P. Snyder Manufacturing Co. in Little Falls, N. Y. He retired early and made a profession of his hobby of magic, giving hundreds of school assembly performances which he marketed personally and through the Antrim lecture bureau. He also spent several weeks in Costa Rica where he assisted a bicycle factory as a volunteer for the International Executive Service Corps. In his later years he moved to Seaford, where he played golf at the Seaford Golf and Country Club and took up art. He produced hundreds of paintings, which he exhibited in art competitions and at Adult Plus+ at Delaware Technical & Community College in Georgetown, where he painted regularly.
Mr. Blodgett was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Eckley Blodgett. He is survived by two sons, James Blodgett and Robert Blodgett; a sister, Catherine Partyka; a brother, Allen Blodgett; three grandchildren, Amy Mayer, David Blodgett, and Jonathan Blodgett; a great-granddaughter, Michelle Mayer; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 2, in Odd Fellows cemetery , Stein Highway, Seaford. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Hardesty Chapel, 202 Laws St., Bridgeville.
Memorial contributions are suggested to a charity of choice.
Olga W. Stevens,
former seamstress
Olga W. Stevens, 91, formerly of Milton, died Tuesday, March 13, 2007, in Green Valley Terrace, Millsboro.
She was the daughter of the late William and Susie Patrick Mary. She was a seamstress for Graves Manufacturing in Milton for many years.
She is survived by two nephews, Lawrence Palmer of Milford and Kenneth Palmer and his wife Marge of Wilmington.
Funeral services and burial will be private at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford.
Doris T. Mitchell,
school secretary
Doris Tippett Mitchell, 97, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully at home on March 17, 2007, surrounded by family and friends.
Doris was born on August 25, 1909 in Bement, Ill. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She worked for 35 years as a secretary to high school principals in Illinois and Delaware, then for the state Rehabilitation Agency in Wilmington where she retired in 1974. She lived previously in Boca Raton, Fla., and Stone Harbor, N.J. She was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. She loved spending time with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death She was preceded in death by two husbands, James Herrick Tippett and Thomas A. Mitchell, and two sisters. She is survived by her son, Richard B. Tippett and wife Judy of Wilmington, two stepdaughters, Ann Mitchell of Ithaca, N.Y., and Vicki Hasson and husband Jack of Lewes; four grandchildren, John Tippett of Wilmington, Jim Tippett of Atlanta, Ga., Kathy Carruthers and husband Scott of Garnet Valley, Pa., and Bob Tippett and wife Sandra of Stone Mountain, Ga.; three step-grandchildren, Bob Heiser, Katrina Cross, Geoff Ott and wife Leigh, all of Newark; eight great-grandchildren, Chris and Richard Tippett of Atlanta, Ga., Bobby, Maddie, and William Tippett of Stone Mountain, Ga., Katie, Ryan and Caroline Carruthers of Garnet Valley, Pa.; two step-great grandchildren, David and Shannon Cross of Newark; her niece, Marilyn Milligan of Atlanta, Ga. and numerous cherished friends and caregivers.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, March 23, at Shipley Manor, 2723 Shipley Rd., Wilmington. Burial will be private in Monticello, Ill.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Compassionate Care Hospice, 5610 Kirkwood Hwy., Wilmington, DE 19808.
Arrangements by Cremation Service of Delaware.
Hilda Reed Ford,
former business owner
Hilda Reed Ford, 87, of Wilmington, joined the Church Triumphant on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
She was the last grandchild of John B. Maberry, one of Delaware’s Congressional Medal of Honor winners in the Civil War. Hilda was the daughter of the late Howard N. and Bessie T. Maberry Reed. She was born on Boxwood Road on August 17, 1919 and grew up in Clayton. She was a graduate of Smyrna High School. Hilda married and moved to Wilmington with her husband Lawrence P. Ford in 1940. She graduated from Goldey-Beacom College and worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Philadelphia during WW II. She started a family and worked alongside her husband building five houses and renovating over 50 homes in the city of Wilmington. Hilda was the owner of one of the first vending machine businesses in Wilmington during the 1960s, Ford’s Vending Service, and co-owner of The Wed-Lock wedding coordinator service with her daughter in the 1980s.
God and family have been the center of Hilda’s life. Hilda was a former member for 28 years and an ordained deacon of Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church. She was a member of First & Central Presbyterian Church for a total of 31 years. Hilda was a circle leader and Bible study teacher at this time. She loved to dance, read and spend her summers in Cape May and Rehoboth Beach. She lived life to the fullest and felt very blessed.
Hilda was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Lawrence P. Ford, in 2001. She is survived by one daughter and her husband, Sue Anne and Charles E. Hill, M.D., of Wilmington; one son and his wife, Robert Alexis and Marilyn R. Ford of Yakima, Wash.; five grandchildren, Amy B. Hill of Kauai, Hawaii, Nancy L. Hill of Wilmington, Pamela Ford Carson and her husband Sean of Bellingham, Wash., Annie Ford Ausink and her husband Gregory of Yakima, Wash., and Robert A. Ford II and his wife Kendra of Ellensburg, Wash.; and three great-grandchildren, Gabriel Carson, Aleya Carson and Anson Ausink.
Family and friends are invited to attend the memorial service to celebrate Hilda’s life at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 24, at First & Central Presbyterian Church, 11th and Market Sts., Wilmington. A private graveside service will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in memory of Hilda R. Ford to First & Central Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements by McCrery Funeral Homes Inc.
Charles Ernest Smith Jr.,
retired Navy Reservist
Charles Ernest “Chick” Smith Jr., 73, of Rehoboth Beach, died Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes.
Mr. Smith was born in Wilmington, the son of the late Charles E. Sr. and Violet V. Brown Smith.
He graduated from Brown Vocational Technical School in Wilmington. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Navy Reserves for 33 years, retiring in 1994.
He was a member of the Order of DeMaley, AARP and the American Legion in Rehoboth Beach.
He was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed science fiction books.
He is survived by his sons, Scott A. Smith of Wilmington and Charles E. “Chuck” Smith III and his wife Marci of Covington, La.; his daughters, Andrea L. Deputy and her husband Clifton of Houston, Lisa M. Semans and her husband Michael of Felton and Susan R. Smith of Milford; seven grandchildren, Donna Smith, Karen Akeson, Michael “Mikie” Deputy, Stacey Deputy, Andrew Seamans, Emily Semans and Autumn Peffley; five great-grandchildren, Savannah, Harmony and Paulina Akeson, Haley Smith and Evan Smith; a sister, Norma Salisbury and her husband Elmer of Wilmington; a brother, Richard Smith and his wife Donna of Wilmington; and his nephews Keith, Eric and Christopher Smith.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 26, in the chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, 119 NW Front St., Milford. Interment will be at Delaware Veterans Memorial cemetery , Millsboro.
Contributions may be made in Charles’ name to The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 163, Salisbury MD 21803-0163.
Ella E. D. Gramling,
retired from Dressco
Ella Elizabeth Downes Gramling, 86, lifelong resident of Georgetown, passed away Monday, March 19, 2007 at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes.
Mrs. Gramling was born in Georgetown, daughter to the late Thomas Henry and Lottie Mae King Figgs.
She was employed for 30 years with Dressco Sewing Factory, retiring in 1980. Ella always took pride in her appearance and enjoyed being a sales representative for 25 years with Avon, four years with Sarah Coventry Jewelry and 8 years with Beline Fashions.
Ella loved her family and was always involved with their activities through the years, especially enjoying family gatherings.
She was a member of the CHEER Center in Georgetown and its Red Hat Ladies. She was a former member of McColleys U.M. Church in Redden and past member of Harrington Moose Lodge.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gramling was preceded in death by her first husband: James B. Downes, her second husband, Howard C. Gramling, a son: Daniel T. Downes, a grandson: Gary Ray Stoeckel, and her sisters Hester King and Elsie Downes; and a brother, Clayton Figgs.
She is survived by three children, Sylvia Stoeckel and her husband Gerald, and Allen Downes , all of Georgetown, and Karen Adams and her husband Eric; a sister, Marian Wilson; six grandchildren, Larry Stoeckel and wife Lisa, Ronald Stoeckel and wife Kim, Kevin Stoeckel and wife Kara, Jamie Adams, Curtis Downes and Jennifer Adams; six great-grandchildren, Jason Stoeckel, Justin Stoeckel, Eric Stoeckel, Kami Goin, Jeremy Stoeckel and Brooke Stoeckel; and four great-great-grandchildren, Joey Stoeckel, Billy Stoeckel, Trent Goin and Chase Goin. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2007 in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 609 E. Market St., Georgetown, where friends may call after 1 p.m.
Eleanor L. Caruso,
beloved grandmother
Eleanor Leanora Caruso, of Blenheim, N.J., formerly of Philadelphia, Pa., died at home, Saturday, March 17, 2007, surrounded by family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank V. Caruso, whom she married March 3, 1944. She is survived by her children, Joseph Caruso and his wife Amy of Philadelphia, Patricia Stahl and her husband Dennis of Blenheim, N.J., Richard F. Caruso and his wife, Teresa, of Lewes, and her grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, March 23, at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Philadelphia.
Dale L. “Banjo” Miller,
Ohio city worker
Dale Lewis “Banjo” Miller, 55, of Lyndhurst, Ohio, and formerly of Chardon, Ohio and Rehoboth Beach, died Friday, March 9, 2007, in Lewes. Mr. Miller was born April 5, 1951, in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Chardon High School and attended Kent State University.
He was employed by the City of Chardon Water Treatment Department for 18 years.
He is survived by his parents, Carol and Lester Miller of Eustis, Fla.; a brother, John, and sister-in-law, Kathy; nieces,, Ashley and Kaitlin of Huntsville, Ala.; a nephew, Martin Miller of Vail, Colo.; a sister, Marcia Schneider and brother-in-law, Robert of Avon Lake, Ohio; a niece, Cara Muchmore of Sheffield Lake, Ohio; and his fiancée, Anita Marie Holleufer of Lewes.
A private family gathering was held March 14, with a celebration of life to be held at a later date in Delaware. For information about the celebration of life, call Anita Marie at 644-0268.
Mildred A. Crystal,
salon owner
Mildred A. Crystal, 82, of Millsboro, passed away Sunday, March 18, 2007, at Harbor Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Lewes. Mrs. Crystal was born December 11, 1924, in Wilmington, daughter of the late John and Sarah Dale Hutchison.
Mrs. Crystal was the owner and operator of Olsens Beauty Salon in Wilmington.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Crystal was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Harry F. Crystal in January 2007; her brothers, Raymond, John, Charles and Robert Hutchison; and her sisters, Emma LeVan, Sarah Kowalski and Katherine Tressler. She is survived by her son, Harry W. Crystal and his wife Betty (Valente) of Millsboro; two grandchildren, Harry K. Crystal and his wife Julie Stark of Granite Falls, Wash., and Kimberly Crystal Agnetti and her husband Thomas of Palmyra, Pa.; five great-grandchildren, Baylee Crystal Agnetti, Thomas Joseph Agnetti, Samantha Lee Agnetti, Matier Grace Stark and Harry Jacob Crystal.
A Committal Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, March 23, at Delaware Veterans Memorial cemetery , 2465 Chesapeake City Rd., Bear. Clayton W. Huwes Jr. will be officiating. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to The Shriners Hospital, c/o Nur Shrine, 198 S. DuPont Hwy., New Castle, DE 19720.
