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John U. Rogers,
retired construction supervisor
John U. Rogers, 80, of Greenwood, passed away Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital. He was 80.
Mr. Rogers was born in Georgetown, son of the late Norman B. and Dorothy Cooper Rogers.
He was a retired construction supervisor.
Mr. Rogers was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
He was a longtime member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Mr. Rogers is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Evelyn Mitchell Rogers; a daughter, Jan Lockwood; a sister, Lois Downs; two grandchildren, Luke Lockwood and his wife Komae, and Brittany Lockwood; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, in the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Airport Road, Milford.
Arrangements by Melson Funeral Services of Long Neck.
Daniel J. Copans,
defense dept. retiree
Daniel John Copans, 77, of Rehoboth Beach, previously of Sarasota, Fla., died Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, at Courtland Manor in Dover, after a courageous struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
Mr. Copans was born in Huntington, N.Y., the son of the late Daniel and Edna Niver Copans. Dan has been a resident of Delaware since 1969, moving here from Arlington, Va. He was a member of the Alumni of Union College, class of 1951.
He worked for the Defense Department in Washington, D.C. for 25 years, retiring in 1979. Dan enjoyed riding bicycles, watching sports, going to the beach, cooking and reading the Washington Post. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Milton.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Paula Lucacek Copans, in 1986, and a brother, Billy Copans.
Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Pauline E. Copans; seven children, Danny J. Copans and his companion, Diane, of San Francisco, Calif.; Christopher J. Copans and his wife, Marilyn, of Vienna, Va.; Brian M. Copans and his wife, Pam, of Athens, Ohio; William B. Copans and his wife, Judy, of Sterling, Va.; Leslie D. Gibson and her husband, Barry, of Astor, Fla.; Jennifer E. Johnson and her husband, Steve, of Vienna; Thea C. Kelleher and her husband, Steve. of Vienna; two stepchildren, Jodi E. Johnson and her husband, Paul, of San Francisco and Lt. Col. Joseph S. Rogers and his wife, Yolanda, of Hawaii; two sisters, Mary Jayne Cannella and her husband Gus of Port St. Lucie, Fla. and Patricia Townsend and her husband Jack of Naples, Fla.; 13 grandchildren, Amy; Aubrey; Aleksandr; Christopher and his wife, Gabi; Daniel; Emma; Eleanor; Mollie; Max; Nathan; Roy; Riley; and Shelly; and two greatgrandchildren, David and Cecelia, all who adored their Op Pop, Pe Pa and Grandpa Dan.
He is also survived by nieces and nephews and many friends.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, at St. John The Baptist Episcopal Church in Milton. Burial will be private.
Contributions may be made to American Parkinson Disease Assoc., J. Louis Blumberg Chapter, 332 Gerard Ave. Elkins Park, PA 19027 or Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.
George R. Wilkinson Jr.,
Doo dah parade founder
George Robert “Bob” Wilkinson Jr., age 70, of Lewes, died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, in Elsmere as a result of a tragic automobile accident.
He was born March 7, 1937, in Wilmington, son of the late George R. Wilkinson and Virginia Marian White Wilkinson Coleman.
Mr. Wilkinson had a long and successful career in real estate in Sussex County starting with Anderson Stokes in the 1970s. He was one of the founders of the Doo-Dah Parade held annually in Lewes on the Fourth of July.
He loved to fish and entertain and where he was so too was his dog Lexie. He was especially devoted to his family and friends. He will be missed terribly by so many. He also served his country with the U.S. Navy.
He is survived by his daughter, Connie-Jo Martinez and her husband John of Newtown, Pa.; two sons, George Robert “Guy” Wilkinson III and Scott Wade Wilkinson, both of Lewes; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Joyce Leigh Matassino of Greenville, and Joyce Anne Simmons and her husband Bill of Georgetown; and his devoted friend, Lorenzo West of Lewes.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, September 18, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may call beginning at 12:30 p.m. The Rev. William Hopkins will be officiating. Interment will follow at Bethel Methodist cemetery , Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the S.P.C.A., 22918 DuPont Blvd., Georgetown, DE 19947.
Jessie Lawson Wilkins,
Sussex businesswoman
Jessie Dodd Lawson Wilkins, 87, of Milford, passed away Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, at her home.
Mrs. Wilkins was a member of the Harbeson United Methodist Church, the Harbeson Homemakers, past president of the Georgetown PTA, had chaperoned for the Miss Delaware Contest and had formerly served on the Return Day Committee for Georgetown.
For many years she had been involved in the operation of the Harbeson Feed Company and Lawson Construction Company along with her first husband, Clifford William Lawson, who passed in 1970.
For many years she served as a hostess for her brother at the Dodd-Carey Funeral Home and for Keith Parsell in later years.
In addition she was predeceased by her sister Julia Dodd King in 1998.
She is survived by her husband, Loraine W. Wilkins; two sons, William Lawson and wife Judith of Georgetown, and Robert L. Lawson and wife Diana of Harbeson; a brother, Ronald F. Dodd and wife Rebecca of Georgetown; grandchildren Todd F. Lawson and wife Stacy of Arlington, Va., Clifford W. Lawson II and wife Meg of Georgetown, Kirk Lawson and wife Mary of Harbeson and Kris Lawson of Millsboro; two great-grandsons, Robbie Lawson of Harbeson and Case Louis Lawson of Georgetown; a stepdaughter, Linda Davis and husband Mike of Harrington; step-granddaughters Robin Esham and Carrie Lamb of Clarksville, Md., and Amber Welch and husband Scott of Bridgeville; step-grandson Micky Davis and wife Lori of Middletown; step-great-grandson Tyler Welch of Bridgeville; step-great-granddaughter Caitlin Davis of Middletown; and niece Kay King Sobolewski of Florida.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 16. Burial followed in Harbeson cemetery.
In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947 or to the Harbeson United Methodist Church, Harbeson.
Randy W. Norman,
fire police lieutenant
Randy W. Norman, 49, of Bethany Beach, died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes.
Mr. Norman was born Dec. 25, 1957, in Columbia, S.C.
Mr. Norman was assistant director of security at Sea Colony, Bethany Beach.
Mr. Norman was a member of Bethel U.M. Church, Dagsboro. He was an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
He was a member of the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company for the last 11 years where he previously served as chief engineer, corporate secretary, bingo organizer and chairman of the bingo drive. He was currently a lieutenant in the Delaware State Fire Police. His hobbies included fishing, collecting knives, and he loved Clint Eastwood westerns. He was devoted to his family, his country and to the fire department.
He was preceded in death by his father, Johnny William Norman.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Jill Robb Norman; a son, Justin William Norman, Bethany Beach; a daughter, Sarah Lindsay Norman of Bethany Beach; a brother, Gary Wayne Norman of Portland, Ore.; his mother and stepfather, Lois D. Robertson Myers and James E. Myers of Greenburg, Ky.; and many fire department members and fellow security officers.
Services with Fireman Honors will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company. The Rev. Carol Svecz will officiate. Interment will be in Mariners Bethel U.M. Church cemetery , Ocean View.
Contributions are suggested to Mr. Norman’s family in order to defray medical expenses, c/o Watson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 125, Millsboro, DE 19966
Rosetta Powell-Savage,
Milton missionary
Missionary Rosetta Powell-Savage, 76, of Milton, departed this life Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, and went home to be with the Lord.
Missionary Rosetta was born Dec. 18, 1930, in Norfolk, Va., to the late Clara and Ross Lambert.
She received her early education in Titus Town, Norfolk.
In 1948, she moved to Milton and was converted in the Mount Zion Holiness Church under the leadership of the late Elder Jacob Brittingham Sr.
Missionary Rosetta then attended the Mount Sinai Holy Mission Church under the leadership of her sister, the late Pastor Viola Butts.
She was a missionary, pianist and member of the church choir.
Missionary Rosetta was known as a soloist, singing three of her favorite songs, “Smile,” “I Made it to the Main Highway,” and “Please Be Patient with Me.”
Later in 1998, she transferred her membership and continued her missionary work while serving God under the leadership of her daughter, Pastor Patricia Powell, in the newly renovated Watch God Move Christian Center, where she was mother of the church.
Missionary Rosetta’s strong religious conviction and belief in God dictated and guided her actions and reactions.
She was an icon in her community. She often visited the sick when she wasn’t feeling well herself.
Missionary Rosetta would make friends at the senior center when she visited in her spare time.
She would always lend a helping hand to assist those in need.
There were many occasions when she may see a person smoking and would go to them and say, “Smoking is bad for your health and it’s a bad habit. Jesus loves you and I do too and that is why I am telling you.”
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Powell Jr.; four brothers; three sisters, Viola Butts, Mary Mynatt and Louise Eley; and one son, Ernest Samuel.
She is survived by one brother, Raymond Lambert of Bridgeville, who lovingly called her “Mutt”; one sister, Daisey Williams of Salisbury, Md.; four daughters, Clara Wright of Ellendale, Delores Hurst of Laurel, Patricia Powell of Bridgeville, and Barbara Soto of Seaford; one son, Louis Powell Jr. of Georgia; one daughter-in-law, Debbie Powell; two sons-in-law, Willie Wright and Leroy Hurst; 24 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at Mt. Zion Holiness Church, Milton, with burial in the Milford Community cemetery.
Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home.
Betty J. Webb Hastings,
cafeteria server
Betty J. Webb Hastings, 73, of Lewes, died Friday, Sept. 14, 2007, at her residence.
Mrs. Hastings was born in Chester, Pa., daughter of the late Fillmore and Polly Mae Dillinger Webb.
She formerly lived in Powder Springs, Ga., where she worked for 22 years as a cafeteria server at Compton Elementary School. Mrs. Hastings and her husband, Robert, retired to Lewes in 1997, where she greatly enjoyed her beach home. She also enjoyed watching TV, particularly “Law & Order” and “Matlock,” and doing word puzzles.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by two sisters, Reva Thompson and Eloise Hart; and two brothers, Fillmore Webb Jr. and Richard Webb.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Robert R. Hastings, a son, Thomas D. Reid of Dallas, Ga.; a daughter, Linda J. Campbell of Bear; a daughter, Karen J. Cook of Lewes; four grandsons, Anthony Petro, Joshua Campbell, Matthew Cook and Thomas Daniel Reid; two sisters, Phyllis Gatta and Patricia Frasher, both of Wilmington; a brother, Leslie Webb of Claymont; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, with Edgar J. Miller officiating. Entombment will follow in the Bethel Methodist cemetery
Mausoleum, Savannah Road, Lewes.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.
Mary Etta Sanders,
archery champion
Mary Etta Sanders, 78, of Westminster, Md., died Saturday morning, Sept. 15, 2007, at the Carroll Hospice Dove House.
Born Sept. 10, 1929, in West Henrietta, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late John C. and Inez Virginia Perry Durbin. She was the wife of the late Edward J. “Spike” Sanders, who died June 7, 2002.
Before retiring, Mrs. Sanders worked at Telemecanique.
She was a member of the National Field Archery Association, Maryland Archery Association, Mayberry Archers, Carroll County Senior Pool League and Zion United Methodist Church. Mrs. Sanders was Maryland State Archery Champion several times over, right-handed and left-handed. She received numerous gold medals at the Maryland Senior Olympics in archery and billiards.
She enjoyed hunting, billiards, fishing, archery and traveling and had been in all 50 states.
Mrs. Sanders is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon A. and Richard Seifert of Milton and Elizabeth M. and Jerry Darnell of Riverdale; a son, James A. Sanders of York, Pa.; a brother, Ralph Durbin of Conesus, N.Y.; a sister, Ruth Fanton of Honeoye, N.Y.; and her grandchildren, Krista and Eric Seifert, Angela and Charles Darnell, Margaret Lowe, Cathrine Andersen and Juliette Lowe.
She was predeceased by a daughter-in-law, Marge Sanders.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Fletcher Funeral Home, 254 E. Main St., Westminster, with her pastor, the Rev. Richard Shamer, officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 18.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Carroll Hospice, 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD 21157; or Westminster Senior Activities Center, Pool League, 125 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD 21157.
Lillian P. Nielsen,
retired seamstress
Lillian Pilkington Nielsen, 86, of Ellendale died Friday, Sept. 7, 2007, at her home.
She was born Nov. 11, 1920, in Wilkes County, N.C. She was one of 13 children of the late Granville and Mamie Pilkington.
During World War II, Lillian operated a lathe in the Norfolk, Va. naval yard, where she met her husband. After moving to Delaware, she worked as a seamstress in several sewing factories in Milton and Milford. She also owned and operated a service station for many years.
Lillian was a member of Georgetown Chapel 9, Order of the Eastern Star. She was also a member of the Clowns of Delaware, where she was the clown named Daisy. She loved clowning around and having fun.
Lillian enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening and making crafts of all kinds. She was talented and could make anything and everything. She also loved to sing. Her fun-loving spirit will be greatly missed.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond W. Nielsen, in 2000; and nine sisters and brothers.
She is survived by a son, James Lowe of Bristol, Tenn.; three sisters, Nora Walker of Moravian Falls, N.C., Ella Batten of Thomasville, N.C., and Pearl Smith of Lexington, N.C.; numerous nieces and nephews; and many other family members.
Funeral services were held in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, Milton, with interment in Odd Fellows cemetery , Milton.
