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All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Melinda Jarvis Devereaux ************************************************************************** * Ella Louise Burris, 83 WILMINGTON - Ella Louise Burris of Wilmington died after a brief illness Sunday, April 6, 2003, in St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington. She was 83. Ms. Burris was born June 20, 1919, in Felton, daughter of the late Clarence C. Burris Sr. and Mabel Connor Burris. She received her early education at the Star Hill Public School and High School, and at Delaware State College. She was a devoted sister, a very loving aunt and cousin. Her family was the love of her life. She accepted Christ at an early age at Scott A.M.E. Zion Church, where she served for more than 50 years. She lived and enjoyed life to the fullest. Ms. Burris was a member of the senior choir and missionary society and was a regular Sunday school member. She worked wherever needed in the church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Ellis, Norman and George C. Burris; and three sisters, Thelma Demby, Helen Baynard and Doris Burris. She is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Clarence C. Jr. and Creola Burris of Milford; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Delema Carter of Felton and Frances and Herman Mosley of Felton; two devoted nieces, Brenda Demby of Wilmington and Melissa Revens of Claymont; two sisters-in-law, Marlene Griffith of Milford and Verdie Burris of Felton; her godson, Brian Bratten; a spiritual sister, Connie Cabble; a spiritual daughter, Edith Lee; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many devoted friends. Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Scott AME Zion Church, Seventh and Spruce streets, Wilmington, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Gracelawn Memorial Park. Arrangements by Bell Memorial Chapel. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Leroy G. Boss, 82 DOVER - Leroy G. Boss of Dover died Monday, April 7, 2003, in Capital Nursing Center in Dover. He was 82. Mr. Boss was born May 18, 1920, in Orville, Ohio, son of the late Joseph Boss and Rose Schmid Boss. He was a U.S. veteran of World War II, serving as a military policeman and a medical technician. He was a purchasing agent for 43 years for Dover Electric and had worked as an electrician for Tudor Electric and Wilson Electric. Mr. Boss was a member of Calvary Assembly of God Church and The Gideon's International. He also was a member of the local VFW. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Clara C. Boss, in 1980; and three sisters, Bessie, Ruth and Rose. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Winifred Boss; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Charles "Joe" and Sara Boss of Port Orchard, Wash., and David Boss of Anchorage, Alaska; seven stepchildren, Raymond Scott of Georgetown, Ernest Scott, and his wife, Linda, of New Castle, William Scott, and his wife, Ginny, of Wilmington, John Scott, and his wife, Val, of Pennsville, N.J., Mary Hall of Newark, Dorothy Moore of Claymont and Patricia Heath, and her husband, Floyd, of Camden; and 21 grandchildren. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday in Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be 2 p.m. Monday in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear. Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to The Gideon's International, Central Delaware Camp, P.O. Box 622, Dover, DE 19903. Letters of condolence may be made at www.delmarvaobits.com/torbert --------------------------------------------------------------- * Christine M. Donkin, 52 MAGNOLIA - Christine M. Donkin of Magnolia died from complications following a bone marrow transplant Tuesday, April 8, 2003, in Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. She was 52. Mrs. Donkin was born Dec. 22, 1950, in Milford, to Herman N. and Margaret Lowman Trice. She graduated from Queen Anne's County High School, Centerville, Md., and received her training at Vincent and Julian School of Cosmetology in Dover. She also attended biannual hairstyling seminars, where the latest techniques in cutting, styling, and perming hair are demonstrated. She was a senior hair stylist for J.C. Penney Beauty Salon in Dover for the last seven years, and had previously owned and operated Chris' Classinique Hair Salon in Dover for eight years. Mrs. Donkin was a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Dover. She served on the advisory board of United Way's Gardening for the Handicapped. She was active in Kent County Republican politics, and had served as chairman of the 34th Republican District, as campaign manager for Rep. Gerald A. Buckworth, R-Buchanan Acres, for many years, and had served as second vice chairperson for the Kent County Republican executive committee. Her interests were in both local and national politics, and she was a dedicated worker for the Republican Party. Mrs. Donkin was a member of the National and Federation of Independent Business and Business Women's Association of Kent County. She had served as chairman of the board of cosmetology and barbering as well as the board of social examiners. She is survived by her husband of 20 years, Fred; her son, James "Jim" Martin of Carlstadt, N.J.; two stepchildren, Frederick and Alexander Donkin, both of Wilmington; a brother, Martin L. "Marty" Trice, and his wife, Beverly, of Quincy, Mass.; a sister and brother-in-law, Connie M. and Paul McDougall of Dover; and three loving grandchildren, Chase, Taylor and Autumn. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday in Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in First Southern Baptist Church, 761 S. Little Creek Road, Dover. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden. Letters of condolence may be made at www.delmarvaobits.com/torbert. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Audrey C. Faries, 73 DOVER - Audrey C. Faries of Dover died Wednesday, April 9, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. She was 73. Mrs. Faries had the Smyrna Florist Shop in Smyrna in the mid-1950s, and later worked as a designer for several floral shops in the 1960s and '70s. She was an avid golfer at Maple Dale Country Club and worked with the junior golfers for a number of years. She served on the house committee. Mrs. Faries was a member of Wesley Methodist Church, Dover. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Robert T. Faries of Dover; two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert G. and Denise Faries of Smyrna and W. Cole and Donna Faries of Felton; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Ron Macon of Smyrna; and three grandchildren, Nicole and Joseph Faries of Felton and Shelby Faries of Wayne, Pa. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Faries Funeral Home, 1250 S. Governors Ave., where friends may call two hours earlier. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Sally Eleanor Austin Garris, 71 SEAFORD - Sally Eleanor Austin Garris of Seaford died of heart failure Tuesday, April 8, 2003, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. She was 71. Mrs. Garris was born in Seaford, daughter of the late Clarence and Addie Eleanor Chaffinch Austin. She was a certified nurse's aide for 25 years, working at Life Care at Lofland Park, and earlier at the Methodist Manor House. Mrs. Garris was a member of the Church of God, Stein Highway, Seaford. She is survived by four sons, Kelly T. Hastings Jr. of Laurel, Keith L. Hastings of Seaford, Kenneth Hastings of Greenwood and Westley Hastings of Laurel; a daughter, Sharon Davis of Delmar; a brother, Wayne Chaffinch of Blades; a sister, Virginia Smith of Seaford; six grandchildren; and a great grandchild. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Watson-Yates Funeral Home, Front and King streets, Seaford, where friends may call one hour earlier. The Rev. Robert Clagg will officiate. Burial will be in Blades Cemetery, Blades. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Sara J. Godwin, 73 DAGSBORO - Sara J. Godwin of Dagsboro died Monday, April 7, 2003, in Atlantic General Hospital, Berlin, Md. She was 73. Mrs. Godwin was born in Stockton, Md., daughter of the late Clemon Orlando and Clara Nicholson Whittington. She had worked for Vlasic Foods, Inc. in Millsboro for 19 years, retiring in 1997. Mrs. Godwin was a member of Pilgrim's Ministry of Deliverance Church, Georgetown. She is survived by two sons, Woodrow W. Godwin Jr. of Millsboro and Otha A. Godwin of Atlantic, Va.; two daughters, Jo Ann Gibbs and Gloria J. Groman, both of Georgetown; two sisters, Joan Cannon of Millsboro and Phyllis Cropper of Wilmington; 20 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Pilgrim's Ministry of Deliverance Church, Du Pont Highway, Georgetown, where friends may call one hour earlier. Pastor Levin Bailey will officiate. Burial will be in Old Field Cemetery, Millsboro. Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Ruth Marie Hall, 49 DOVER - Ruth Marie Hall of Dover died Tuesday, April 9, 2003, in her home surrounded by her family. She was 49. Mrs. Hall was born March 26, 1954, in the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia. She graduated from Dover High School, class of 1972. She worked as a manager for Bank of America for 15 years. Mrs. Hall was a loving wife, mother, daughter and grandmother. She enjoyed time spent with her family and co-workers. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Steve Hall; a son and daughter-in-law, Ray and Jigie Hall of Camden; a daughter and son-in-law, Lena and Daniel Zeno of Bear; her parents, Bennie and Marian Joyce Koehler of Broadkill Beach; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Lois and Dave Rehkamp of Broadkill Beach and Dale and John O'Neal of Hartly; mother-in-law, Kathlyn Hall of Dover; father-in-law, Ray S. Hall of Wyoming; brother-in-law, Jeff Hall of Dover; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom and Debbie Hall of Dover and David and Nancy Hall of Smyrna; grandmother, Grace Warren of Lacon, Ill.; two granddaughters, Jasmine Hall of Camden and Madelyn Zeno of Bear; two nephews, David Rehkamp and Bennie Melvin; a niece, Brandy Rehkamp; a great-niece, Jena O'Neal; and numerous friends, associates and neighbors. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, where friends may call two hours earlier. Burial will be private in Lakeside Cemetery. Instead of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. Du Pont Highway, Dover, DE 19901. Letters of condolences may be made at www.delmarvaobits.com or sent to www.pippinfuneralhome.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Ruth A. Ivory, 88 TOWNSEND - Ruth A. Ivory of Townsend died Wednesday, April 9, 2003, in Silver Lake Center, Dover. She was 88. Mrs. Ivory was an avid Alan Jackson fan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Ivory, in 1984, a son-in-law, Reese Johnson; and a grandson, Jim Johnson. She is survived by a daughter, Lorraine Johnson of Townsend; a grandson, Randy, and his wife, Vickie Johnson, of Smyrna; a granddaughter, Terri, and her husband, Gene Smith, of Earleville, Md.; a special great-granddaughter, Stacey Shahan of Clayton; three great-grandsons, Bobby Smith and Robbie and Brian Johnson; a sister-in-law, Helen Austin; a great-great-granddaughter, Megan Johnson; and several nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in Daniels '&;' Hutchinson Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad St., Middletown. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Townsend Cemetery. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Emily M. Pitt, 83 DELMAR - Emily M. Pitt of Delmar died Tuesday, April 8, 2003, in her home. She was 83. Mrs. Pitt was born in Kellar, Va., daughter of the late Thomas Mason and Beulah Sylvester. She was a daycare provider for about 20 years in Delmar. She had also owned the restaurant "Masons" in Virginia Beach, Va. Mrs. Pitt was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, Delmar. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward C. Pitt; and two sisters, Addie M. Cordrey and Margaret V. Littleton. She is survived by a niece and her husband, Patty and Doug Whaley of Laurel; a brother-in-law, Bill Cordrey of Salisbury, Md.; three cousins, Peggy Ann Kellam of Salisbury, Katherine Evans of Onancock, Va., and Warren Mears of Springfield, Pa.; and two great-nieces, Jamie and Kelly Whaley of Laurel. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday in Short Funeral Home, 13 E. Grove St., Delmar, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in St. Stephen's Cemetery, Delmar. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Peggy Lynn Rust, 46 HOLT, Mich. - Peggy Lynn Rust of Holt, formerly of Denton, Md., died Monday, April 7, 2003, in University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. She was 46. Mrs. Rust was born Dec. 6, 1956, in Easton, Md., daughter of the late Merritt and Dorothy Wells Murphy Roop. She was a Colonel Richardson High School graduate. Mrs. Rust worked at area poultry laying houses and had last worked at the Cambridge Humane Society. She is survived by her husband, Ronnie Lee Rust Sr. of Holt and Bridgeville, Del.; two daughters and a son-in-law, Candy L. and Brad Dietrick of Holt and Melissa Murphy, recently of Holt; two sisters, Frances Beulah of Denton and Karen Lugo of Westminster, Md.; three brothers, Donald Murphy of Federalsburg, Md., Dale Murphy of Ridgely, Md., and Burke Murphy of Denton; three stepchildren, Ronnie Rust Jr. of Greenwood, Del., Shawn Rust of Michigan and Brandon Dennis of Greenwood, three grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today in Frampton-Hawkins-Eskow Funeral Home, P.M., Federalsburg. Services will be 2 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. The Rev. Glenn Staehli will officiate. Burial will be in Concord Cemetery near Federalsburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Dorchester County, 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD 21613. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Catherine Laura Croes Ruston, 94 LAUREL - Catherine Laura Croes Ruston of Laurel died Tuesday, April 8, 2003, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. She was 94. Mrs. Ruston was born in New Castle, daughter of the late John and Georgianna Wardell Davis. She retired as an elementary school teacher in the Laurel School District, where she taught school for more than 50 years. Traveling was her passion; she had visited all 50 states and many other countries. She loved travel for the adventures it brought her. She was an avid reader and owned many books. She was very dedicated to visiting her daughter for more than 50 years regularly at the Stockley Center and other locations where she lived. Mrs. Ruston was a longtime member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Laurel. She was a proud member of Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 18 in Laurel, and was past worthy grand matron of the Laurel chapter as well as on the state level. She held many other various positions on the local and state level with Order of the Eastern Star. She was also a member of the Mason Gavel Club, National Parliamentarian Association, Laurel New Century Club, where she held many positions, Laurel Lioness and the National Education Association. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Wilbert Croes, in 1928; her second husband, T. Robert Ruston, in 1961; a grandson, Gary A. Croes; two brothers; and five sisters. She is survived by a son, Wilbert V. Croes of Laurel; three daughters, Bonnie C. Ruston of Georgetown, Sylvia Ruston Bevan of Long Neck and Joyce K. Ruston of Wilmington; two grandchildren, Thomas R. Croes of Georgetown and James C. Wootten of Bear; two great-grandchildren, Luke A. Wootten and Connor J. Wootten; and several nieces and nephews. The Order of Eastern Star service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by the funeral service, where friends may call one hour earlier. Graveside committal service will be 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Lakeside Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Dover. Arrangements by Short Funeral Homes. ---------------------------------------------------------------