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Roberta L. McWilliams,
retired system analyst
Roberta L. “Sweetie” McWilliams, 54, of Millsboro, died Friday, July 1, 2005, at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes.
Mrs. McWilliams was born, raised and educated in Upper Chichester, Pa. and had resided in Millsboro for the past 13 years. She was a system analyst for Electronic Data Systems for 15 years prior to her illness. She was a member of the Long Neck Business Association, Millsboro Lions Club and Millsboro Chamber of Commerce.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Gloria H. Julius Green, who died in 1999.
She is survived by her children, Kimberly D. Wade of Lewes and Joseph Wade and his wife Christi Jo Wade of Pennsville, N.J.; her father, William T. Green of Ogden, Pa.; a brother, Russ Green of Ogden; and a sister, Denise Coale of Brookhaven, Pa.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 7, at Moreland-Pagano Funeral Home, 825 Main Street, Trainer, Pa., where a viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Interment will be in Lawn Croft cemetery , Linwood, Pa.
Contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 92 Reads Way, New Castle DE 19720.
Dorothy Jean Dawson,
state poultry grader
Dorothy Jean “Peaches” Dawson, 47, of Bridgeville, passed away Friday, July 1, 2005, at home, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Ms. Dawson worked in the poultry industry, starting with Perdue Farms Inc., until she became a state grader with the Department of Agriculture, where she worked until her retirement.
Ms. Dawson knew and touched many throughout her life and was a very special sister, daughter and friend.
She was preceded in death by her father, Vernon Dawson; and her grandmother, Ella Terry.
She is survived by her loving mother, Jeanne Dawson of Seaford; her siblings and their spouses, John and Crissy Dawson of Mardela, Md., Marie and Loreto Arteaga of Bridgeville, Jeff and Cindy Dawson of Georgetown, Chris Dawson and his fiancée,, Tasha, both of Lewes; her friend and companion, Bob Tull of Bridgeville; nieces and nephews, John, Michael, Christian, Brooke, Tayler, Gabby, Cody, Corey, Lauria and Amanda and her fiancé, Virgil Davis; many aunts, uncles and cousins, and Linda Dawson Gonzalez.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 5, in the Cranston Funeral Home, 300 Shipley Street, Seaford. Services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 6, in the funeral home, where friends may also call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Odd Fellows cemetery , Seaford.
Ernest R. Lynch,
first WWII draftee
Ernest R. Lynch, 86, of Lewes, died Friday, July 1, 2005, at his residence in Lewes. He was the son of the late Ernest and Anna Bartlett Lynch.
Mr. Lynch had the honored distinction of being not only the very first person drafted into World War II, but also the first one drafted in the state of Delaware and the first one from Lewes. President Roosevelt drew the first draft card, 158, Ernest Lynch’s card number.
Following the war, Mr. Lynch later worked as an automotive mechanic at Ft. Miles, Lewes, when it was first built, working with the construction engineers. He owned and operated Lee’s Mobil Station in Rehoboth and Lee’s Bait & Tackle Shop in Lewes. He was known as the “Minnow Man” and specialized in Volkswagon repairs. He was a member of the American Legion Post 17.
He was preceded in death by his son, Daniel Lynch.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Leora (Fisher) Lynch; two sons, Robert E. (Buddy) Lynch of Franklinville, N.J. and John W. (Jack) Lynch of Lewes; a daughter, Maryanne Millman of Milton; a brother, Leonard Lynch of Shade Gap, Pa.; seven grandchildren: Donna, Annette, Bryan, Bobby, Dawn, Kim, and Dean; 12 great-grandchildren, Mikie, Chris, Ashley, Chelsey, Jenneffer, Bryan, Christine, Robbie, Gage, Nickalas, Austin and Tyler; and two great-great-grandchildren, Leora and Kara.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 7, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, with visitation one hour prior. Interment will be at private.
Contributions are suggested to the Lewes Fire Department, P.O. Box 225, Lewes, DE 19958.
Dorothy Cann Hopkins,
owned Green Acres Farm,
Dorothy Cann Hopkins, 85, of Lewes, born Jan. 17, 1920 in Kennett Square, Pa., the daughter of Clarence C. Cann and Letitia Roberts Cann, departed to be with the Lord from her home in Quakertown on Friday, July 1, 2005. She graduated valedictorian of her class in 1938 from the Kennett Consolidated High School. At the 50th class reunion in 1988, Dorothy was the keynote speaker. In 1942 she graduated from the University of Delaware, earning a bachelor of arts degree, with honors, majoring in history and modern languages.
Dorothy was a member of Conley’s United Methodist Church, where she was a former president of the Women’s Society of Christian Service and church pianist. She was a full-time homemaker, owner-operator of Green Acres Farm, near Cool Spring, with her husband Bill, and was a loving mother of her ten children.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Margaret Cann, and her grandson, William Andrew Hopkins.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, William N. Hopkins; her children: Rev. Diane E. Melson, and her spouse Frank, Jr., of Bridgeville, Rev. William C. Hopkins, and his spouse Cathy, of Lewes, Nancy H. Lank, and her spouse Christopher, of Milton, Walter C. Hopkins, and his spouse Jenny, of Lewes, Dorothy H. Farmer, and her spouse Richard, of Middletown, Patricia H. Dieringer, and her spouse Donald, of New York City, N.Y., Dr. Brinton A. Hopkins, and his spouse Kathy Ann, of Raleigh, N.C., Joseph R. Hopkins, and his spouse Wendi, of Putnam, Conn., Marian H. Harvey, and her spouse Todd, of Chesapeake City, Md., and Samuel R. Hopkins, and his spouse Audrey, of Parrish, Fla.; 25 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday July 8, at the Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may call one hour prior to services. Burial will follow at Coolspring cemetery , near Lewes. Friends may also call at the funeral home from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday July 7.
Contributions are suggested to the Delaware 4-H Foundation, 113 Townsend Hall, 531 South College Avenue, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716-2210.
Lillian Coverdale Straw,
worked for NIH
Lillian Coverdale Straw, 97, of South Dennis, Mass., and Lewes, died peacefully on Monday, June 13, 2005 at Eagle Pond Rehabilitation and Living Center, where she had lived for 15 months.
Lillian was born in Lewes on Jan. 19, 1908, the daughter of George and Clara Coverdale. She graduated from Lewes High School in 1925. For the next 17 years, she worked for the Sussex Trust Company, in various departments. In 1944, she married Robert C. Straw, of Chevy Chase, Md. They moved to Gaithersburg, where they had an antique shop, and later to Bethesda, where Lillian served 13 years as an administrative assistant with The National Institute of Health. Lillian and Bob retired in 1967 and bought a home in South Dennis, Mass., on Cape Cod, where they spent the rest of their lives.
Bob passed away in 1986. Lillian was also pre-deceased by two sisters, Marion C. Graves and Helena C. Macintire, both of Lewes.
She is survived by her sister, C. Emily Burton of Lewes, four nieces and three nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a graveside service at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 10, at the Bethel Methodist cemetery
on Savannah Road in Lewes, at which time the cremains of both Lillian and Bob will be interred.
Contributions are suggested to the Northside United Methodist Church Building Fund, 701 Airline Road, Brewster, MA 02631.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
James G. Arcangioli,
retired tailor,
James G. Arcangioli, 90, of Lewes, died Wednesday, June 29, 2005, at Lewes Convalescent Center.
Mr. Arcangioli was born in Philadelphia, Pa., son of the late Salvatore and Lucy Arcangioli. He had lived in Brooklyn Park, Md. for five years and in Lewes for two years. He attended Harbor Lights Senior Center in Lewes regularly. Mr. Arcangioli loved to play cards and watch baseball. He was a tailor by trade, having come from a family of tailors and furriers.
Mr. Arcangioli is survived by his wife, Catherine I. (Matriciano) Arcangioli; two daughters, Janet and Karen of Lewes; and two grandsons, Bill and his wife Mara, and Stephen and his wife Leanah.
Private arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
Contributions are suggested to a charity of choice.
Mary E. Caplen,
Maine resident
Mary E. Caplen, 94, of North Sebago, Maine, passed away peacefully while sleeping, Wednesday, June 29, 2005.
Mrs. Caplen was born May 7, 1911, in Rahway, N.J., daughter of the late Ellen and John Reilly.
She married Edward Mitchell in 1935, the father of her children, who was the son of Polish immigrants and was brought up in an orphanage, due to the family’s extreme poverty. He graduated from Cooper Union in New York City, and established a successful commercial art studio. After his death, she married Nathan Caplen of Great Neck, N.Y. He was involved in the manufacture and marketing of textiles, and at one time owned a woolen mill in Maine. He died in 1996. She moved to North Sebago to live with her daughter.
Mrs. Caplen had an intense curiosity and despite having only an eighth grade education, through her avid reading became very knowledgeable about many aspects of the world around her. She had a keen interest in nature and enjoyed watching wildlife. A highlight of her day was “cocktail hour” before dinner, where she enjoyed lively conversations with her family on many topics while she sipped a glass of beer.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Roderick MacGregor of North Sebago; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Sherry Mitchell of Lewes; a grandson and his wife, Jeffrey Jr. and Anne Mitchell of Fredericksburg, Va.; a granddaughter, Tracey Mitchell of Lewes; a grandson, Ian MacGregor of New York City; and close friend Arlene Learned of Bridgton, who helped broaden her horizons, keep her stimulated and helped with her daily living chores.
Services were private.
E. Ruth Shaw Hayes,
Bandstand director
Edith Ruth Shaw Hayes, 82, of Rehoboth Beach, died Tuesday, June 28, 2005, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md.
Her husband, William J. Hayes, a retired Cape Henlopen School District music teacher and band director and Rehoboth Beach Bandstand entertainment director, passed away in l994.
Ruth formerly worked as a secretary for Lewes High School. In Aug, 2003 she was named Person of the Year in the State of Delaware. She was also program director of Rehoboth Beach Bandstand subsequent to her husband’s death. She was active on the Advisory Board of International Interfaith Ministries, Inc.
Ruth adored animals. She was always donating to pet charities. She would take strays in left by tourists, have them sprayed or neutered and find new homes for them. She was a loving, giving person.
She is survived by her one daughter, Susan Hayes Barefoot, and her husband Melvin, of West Columbia, S.C.; six grandchildren, Tiwana, Stacy, Robin, Doug, Tonya and April; and seven great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one brother.
Services will be Tuesday, July 5, at 11 a.m., at the Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may call one hour prior to services.
Interment will be at the Delaware Veterans cemetery , Bear at 2 p.m., July 5.
Memorial contributions are suggested to International Interfaith Ministries, Inc., 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20006-1846
Ernestine ‘Lucy’ Conner,
insurance agent
Ernestine “Lucy” Lucille Conner, 66, of Lewes, formerly of Fairfax, Va., died Wednesday, June 29, 2005, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes.
Ms. Conner was born in Whittaker, W. Va., the daughter of the late Ernest Van Buren Anderson and Katherine Frances Stanley Anderson. Ms. Conner for many years had formerly worked in Fairfax for different auto dealerships as an insurance and finance agent. Most recently she had co-owned and operated Pam’s Tans in Lewes.
She is survived by her companion and friend of a lifetime, Michael Dumal; her daughter, Pamela Jean Conner of Lewes; one brother, Buren Anderson of Johnson City, Tenn.; three sisters, Maxine Anderson and Mildred McDaniel both of Johnson City, and Mary Jean Jenkins of Bakersville, N.C.; two grandsons, Tony Bibb and Tommy Mansfield both of Lewes; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also predeceased by a daughter, Dale Suzzanne Bibb; and sister, Nellie Irene Howery
Funeral Services will be Saturday, July 2, at 11 a.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may call after 10 a.m. Burial will be in Bethel Methodist cemetery , Lewes.
Contributions are suggested to Beebe Medical Foundation, 902 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958
Michael S. Hedgepeth,
advertising director
Michael S. Hedgepeth, 60, of Rehoboth Beach and formerly of Philadelphia, died Sunday, June 26, 2005, at home.
Mr. Hedgepeth was born July 28, 1944, in Philadelphia, the son of the late Granville L. Hedgepeth and Caye Christian.
He graduated from St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia and was an alumnus of Haverford College. He was a creative director for numerous advertising agencies such as Answer Think, Tierney Group and Spiro Associates. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in the Vietnam War.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his partner, David Haller.
He is survived by five close friends whom he thought of as his family, Claire Maier, Judith Kessler, Ralph, Pam and Kaitlin McCutcheon. He is also survived by his dog, Louise Haller Hedgepeth, a King Charles spaniel.
Services and burial were private.
Contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society, Sussex County Unit, P.O. Box 163, Salisbury, MD 21805, or to a charity of choice.
Arrangements by Melson Funeral Services, Long Neck.
Helen Mae Marine,
former salon owner
Helen Mae Murphy Marine, 64, of Seaford, died Monday, June 27, 2005, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford.
Mrs. Marine was born Aug. 2, 1940 in Lincoln, to the late William Murphy and Bertha Savage Murphy of Delmar.
Mrs. Marine had formerly owned and operated her own beauty salon for 10 years in Milford. She also loved playing the slots.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her daughter, Gwen Butler and her husband Bobby of Sanford, Fla.; her son Doug Tucker and his wife Kathy of Laurel; her companion Bobby Marine of Seaford; her sister, Kitty Tunnell of Federalsburg, Md.; two brothers, Ernest Murphy and Bobby Murphy both of Laurel; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 1, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Hardesty Chapel, 202 Laws Street, Bridgeville, Rev. Clarence Voshell officiating. Interment will be at St. Johnstown cemetery
in Greenwood.
