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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 ************************************************************************** * Arnold Bernard Bratcher, 74 PONDTOWN, Md. - Arnold Bernard Bratcher of Pondtown died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003, in Kent and Queen Anne's Hospital. He was 74. Mr. Bratcher was born in Pondtown, son of the late Hiram and Celia Taylor Bratcher. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked for the Chestertown Brick Co. in Chestertown for many years while the company was owned by the Schauber family. He then went to work for Dixon Valve '&;' Coupling. He enjoyed gardening and in his younger years he was involved with training thoroughbred horses. Mr. Bratcher was a member of the Father's Day Club in Pondtown and had attended Boyers Chapel. He also was a former member of Parker White American Legion Post, Chestertown. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty Audrey Bratcher; five daughters, B. Diane Bratcher of Pondtown, B. Denise Moore of Bear, Del., D. Arlene Bratcher and Leslie V. Bratcher both of Pondtown, and Vera L. Shorter of Huntsville, Ala.; three sisters, Helen Bratcher of Philadelphia, Dorothy Bratcher of Baltimore and Bernice Lively of Chestertown; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Mt. Pleasant Church, Pondtown, where friends may call two hours earlier. Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday in Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Hurlock. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein '&;' Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Millington Letters of condolences may be made at www.fhnfuneralhome.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Alfred Warren Dove Sr., 74 MILLINGTON, Md. - Alfred Warren Dove Sr. of Millington died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, in his home. He was 74. Mr. Dove was born in Harwood, son of the late Edward and Edith Anderson Dove. He was a self-employed plumber, spending much of his career in River Dale, Prince George's County, for 20 years. He moved to Chesterville in 1970. Mr. Dove enjoyed hunting, gardening and following the weather. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Keith Dove, in 1976; and six brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mildred Allene Fisher Dove; two sons, Alfred W. Dove Jr. of Galestown and Gary M. Dove of Church Hill; two daughters, Kathy Marie Dove Walls of Millington and Patricia Lynn Dove Leager of Marydel; two sisters, Eleanor Turner of Camp Springs and Edith Fuss of Stevensville; and a brother, William McLain Dove of Rock Hall. Services will be private. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein '&;' Newnam Funeral home, P.A., Millington. Letters of condolences may be made at www.fhnfuneralhome.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Robert L. Fester, 74 DOVER - Robert L. Fester of Dover died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003, in Bayhealth- Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 74. Mr. Fester was born May 26, 1928, in Bellevue, Pa., son of the late Joseph H. Fester and Edna P. Owens Fester. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean and Vietnam wars, retiring after 23 years as a master sergeant. He loved working with wood and making things for his family and friends in his little shop. Mr. Fester was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and had volunteered for Special Olympics. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill Fester and Ed Fester; and three sisters, Virginia Swatsfigure, Ida Mae Mules and Edna Harper. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Margaret of Dover; three sons, William F. Fester of Biloxi, Miss., Robert K. Fester of Milford and Timothy M. Fester of Dover; a daughter, Edna F. Trosclair of Biloxi; three grandchildren, Curtis and Natalie Trosclair and Danielle Herrman, all of Biloxi; and a great- grandson, Christopher Herrman of Van Cleve, Miss. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Torbert Funeral Chapel, 61 S. Bradford St., Dover. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral Home. Burial will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover. Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Kent Sussex Industries, 258 N. Rehoboth Blvd., Milford, DE 19963. Letters of Condolences may be made at www.delmarvaobits.com/torbert. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Pauline H. Harding, 85 EARLEVILLE, Md. - Pauline H. Harding of Earleville died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, in her home. She was 85. Mrs. Harding was born in Preston, daughter of the late Wilhelm and Hannah Nagel Gadow. She was a retired teacher's aide, spending 17 years with Cecil County public schools. She also drove a school bus for several years. Mrs. Harding was past president of Gold Finger Garden Club. She was a line dancer for the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend Senior Center, Middletown, Del. She was very active with Lower Cecil County Senior Center, where she enjoyed arranging bus trips and enjoyed helping to prepare their Tuesday meeting meal. She was very active during her late husband's tenure with the Cecilton Lions Club, traveling throughout District 22B and internationally. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George R. Harding Sr., in 1996. She is survived by two sons, George R. Harding Jr. of Wilmington, Del., and William E. Harding of Ventnor, N.J.; a sister, Agnes Nero of Rehoboth Beach, Del.; a brother, Frederick Gadow of Preston; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday in Fellows, Helfenbein '&;' Newnam Funeral Home, 226 E. Main St., Cecilton, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Zion Cemetery, Cecilton. Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, c/o Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.O. Box 342, Cecilton, MD 21913. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Hazel Parks Kelly, 92 CHESTERTOWN, Md. - Hazel Parks Kelly of Chestertown died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, in her home. She was 92. Mrs. Kelly was born in Baltimore, daughter of the late Lee and Eva DeBaugh Parks. She worked for West Chemical Co. in Baltimore, retiring in 1969. Mrs. Kelly enjoyed baking desserts, fishing, board games, especially Yahtzee, and watching "Young and the Restless." She also enjoyed knitting and was very skilled, creating beautiful clothing for her friends and family. She is survived by a son, Richard Kelly of Perry Hall; two daughters and a son-in-law, Judy Kelly of Chestertown and Barbara K. and Ryan Fisher of Parkville; a brother, Phillip Parks of Westminster; and two grandchildren, Christopher L. Kelly of Perry Hall and Timothy W. Kelly of Memphis, Tenn. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Chester River Home Care and Hospice, 6602 Church Hill Road, Suite 300, Chestertown, MD 21620. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein '&;' Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Chestertown. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Ann Wallis Manlove, 85 ODESSA - Ann Wallis Manlove of Odessa died peacefully Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, in her home. She was 85. She was preceded in death by her husband, William W. Manlove Sr.; and a son, William Manlove Jr. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, W. Eugene and Jane Manlove of Odessa; a daughter, Nancy Ann Ellingsworth of Odessa; a son-in-law who helped care for her, Charles P. McClafferty of Odessa; a daughter-in-law, Helene Manlove of Asburn, Va.; seven grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren. Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday in Daniels and Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad St., Middletown, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Warwick Cemetery, Warwick, Md. Instead of flowers, contributions may be made St. Paul's United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 253, Odessa, DE 19730. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Ruth Pat Crow Miller, 87 GEORGETOWN, Md. - Ruth Pat Crow Miller of Georgetown died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, in Union Hospital, Elkton. She was 87. Mrs. Miller was born July 30, 1915 in Williamstown, W.Va., daughter of the late Charles and Ida Williams Welch. After her marriage to Russell Crow, she was co-pilot and stewardess for a transport service that they operated. They owned and operated Bay Marine Construction, a pile driving business on the Upper Chesapeake Bay. They also owned a helicopter, which did crop dusting for area farms and nurseries. Mr. Crow died in 1964. In 1972 she married Paul Miller Sr. and they lived between Georgetown and Rock Hall until his death in 1987. Her generosity towards individuals and organization was well known. She loved music and entertaining. Mrs. Miller was a member of Galena Busy Bee's Galena Homemakers, Olivet United Methodist Church, its women's society and was a Sunday school teacher. She is survived by a stepson, Paul Miller Jr. of Millersville; a brother-in- law, Neil Crow of Moundsville, W.Va.; dear friends, George Drummond Sr. of Georgetown and Shirley Hollingsworth of Cecilton; and family in West Virginia. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Olivet United Methodist Church, Galena, where friend may call one hour earlier. Burial will be at a later date. Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to Olivet United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 107, Galena, MD 21635. Arrangements by Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, Galena. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Emma Mae Puppe, 88 ROCK HALL, Md. - Emma Mae Puppe of Rock Hall died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, in her home. She was 88. Mrs. Puppe was born March 8, 1914, in Rock Hall, daughter of the late James and Ina Downey. She married Frank Otto Puppe Jr. Feb. 13, 1932. Mrs. Puppe was a lifetime member of Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Co. She was awarded the Governor's Citation for 45 years of outstanding service to the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Co. She was head of the fire company auxiliary for numerous years. She worked in the "Nearly New Shop" as a member of the Kent and Queen Anne's Hospital Auxiliary and was a former member of the Rock Hall Lions Club Auxiliary. She also was a member of the Kent County Farm Bureau, Rock Hall Bureau Planning Group and the County Women's Committee. She also loved to work on the polls at election time. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years Aug. 10, 1995. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert Lee Puppe and Dean Puppe; three granddaughters and the respective husbands of two, Ina May Puppe Reed and Rickie Gordon Reed, Lisa Ann Elliott and Terry Lee Smith and Steve Smith; and three great-granddaughters, Samantha Mae Reed, Mindi Arlene Reed and Lauren Shaye Smith. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today in Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, Rock Hall. Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Rock Hall. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Katherine Brittingham Yeoman, 91 SEAFORD - Katherine Brittingham Yeoman of Seaford, formerly of Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, in Methodist Manor House, Seaford. She was 91. Mrs. Yeoman was a graduate of Beacom College. She greatly enjoyed world travel. Mrs. Yeoman was a member of the Rehoboth Beach Village Improvement Association and Rehoboth Beach Garden Club while in Rehoboth Beach. She also was a deacon of the Presbyterian Church and a member of the Seaford Presbyterian Church. During her 12 years at Methodist Manor House she participated in many activities and committees. She was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Patrick Henry Yeoman, in 1977. She is survived by three daughters, Patricia Y. Brett of Sarasota, Fla., Katherine Y. King of Seaford and Constance Y. Kashiwagi of Gaithersburg, Md.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Thursday in Denton Cemetery. Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Methodist Manor House Chapel, 1001 Middleford Road, Seaford. Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to Seaford Presbyterian Church, 701 Bridgeville Highway, Seaford, DE 19973. Arrangements by Cranston Funeral Home, Seaford. ---------------------------------------------------------------