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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 ************************************************************************** * Bertha O'Neal Abraham, 94 SEAFORD - Bertha O'Neal Abraham of Seaford, formerly of Havertown, Pa., died of a heart attack Friday, March 21, 2003, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. She was 94. Mrs. Abraham was born in Laurel, daughter of the late John Lunza and Sadie Alice Cannon O'Neal. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Abraham was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Havertown and the Association of the Blind at the Methodist Manor House in Seaford. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George Pohlig Abraham, in 1977; and three sisters, Blanche O'Neal Moyer in 1985, Beatrice O'Neal Horner in 1989 and Bessie O'Neal Orem in 2002. She is survived by a niece, Bonnie Baynum, and Mrs. Baynum's husband, Jim, both of Greenwood; a nephew, John Shields of San Antonio; a great-niece, Babs Spada, and Mrs. Spada's husband, Steve, both of Harrington; a great-nephew, Jimy Baynum, and Mr. Baynum's wife, Loriann, both of Atlanta, Ga.; and great-great- nieces and great-great-nephews. Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in Watson-Yates Funeral Home, Front and King streets, Seaford, where friends may call one hour earlier. The Rev. Dan Walker will officiate. Graveside services and burial will be 2 p.m. Tuesday in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, Pa. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Association for the Blind, 800 West St., Wilmington, DE 19801. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Dorothy B. Branson, 87 DENTON, Md. - Dorothy B. Branson of Denton died Saturday, March 22, 2003, in the Caroline Nursing Home in Denton. She was 87. Mrs. Branson was born in Bluff City, Kan., daughter of the late John and Mary Rose Kucera Hybsha. She was a 1933 graduate of Medicine Lodge (Kan.) High School. Mrs. Branson taught school in Kansas through World War II. In 1947, she and her husband moved to Manhattan, Kan., where she lived until she moved to Denton in 1997. In Kansas, Mrs. Branson was active in teaching the College Avenue United Methodist Church Sunday school, and in the Order of the Eastern Star, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Business and Professional Women, the Manhattan Senior Center and various art and writing groups. In Denton, she was affiliated with St. Luke's United Methodist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lester R. Branson, March 12, 1997; and a sister, Helen Walker. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Lester L. and Dottie Branson of Denton; two half-brothers, John Lloyd Hybsha and A.L. Hybsha; a half-sister, Maurine Lefurgy; two grandchildren, Michael Branson and Laura Harmon; and one great-granddaughter, Allison Harmon. Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday in the Chapel at St. Luke's United Methodist Church at Fifth Avenue and Franklin Street in Denton, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be private. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions St. Luke's United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 66, Denton, MD 21629. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Margaret Melson Edgell, 91 DOVER - Margaret Melson Edgell of Dover died Saturday, March 22, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. She was 91. Mrs. Edgell was born May 27, 1911, in Bridgeville, daughter of the late Clarence and Mary Simpson Melson. She graduated from Bridgeville High School in 1928, and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in home economics from the University of Delaware in 1933. Mrs. Edgell taught home economics at Laurel High School before moving to Dover with her husband and becoming a devoted wife and mother. She loved many things, including flowers, songbirds and activities with her church. However, the thing she loved most of all was spending time with her family, which, by the time of her death, had grown to include two children and their spouses, five grandchildren and their spouses and six great-grandchildren. She took great care in organizing family events, and loved nothing more than to gather everyone together for holidays and other special times. Rooms in her house were devoted to pictures and mementos from her family, and she kept herself fully apprised of and involved in the lives of each and every family member up until the time of her death. Mrs. Edgell was a founding member of the Palmer Home board of directors and a past member of the Dover Century Club and the Round Table of Camden-Wyoming. She was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Dover. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Louis E. Edgell, in 1995; and a sister, Ruth Sparklin, who had lived in Rochester, N.Y. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Jane Edgell Wyatt and G. Edward Wyatt of Rehoboth Beach; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert Louis Edgell and Lynn Paxton Edgell of Dover; five grandchildren, Timothy E. Wyatt, Susan W. Lee, Terry J. Walker, David L. Edgell and Lisa E. Ratliff; and six great- grandchildren, Brian E. Lee, Samantha A. Lee, Lindsay M. Walker, Caitlyn J. Walker, Tyler L. Wyatt and J. Andrew Wyatt. Services will be noon Tuesday in Wesley United Methodist Church in Dover, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Dover. The family suggests memorial contributions to Wesley United Methodist Church, 209 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901. Arrangements by Trader Funeral Home, Dover. Letters of condolence may be made at www.delmarvaobits.com or sent to traderfh@aol.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Esther Jean Henderson, 69 SMYRNA - Esther Jean Henderson of Smyrna died suddenly Friday, March 21, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. She was 69. Mrs. Henderson was born Oct. 1, 1933, in Yorklyn, daughter of the late Thomas Worth and Bina Lee Blackburn Roberts. She was a homemaker who devoted her life to her family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family and many friends will miss her greatly. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Harry L. Roberts. She is survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law, Linda and Joe Manfre of Bear and Cindy and John Lawson of Smyrna; two sons, Allan Henderson and Michael Henderson, both of Smyrna; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; four brothers and a sister, Thomas Roberts Jr., Alan Roberts, Bill Roberts, Mary McCready and Jim Roberts, all of Newark; and her mother-in-law, Martha Henderson of New Castle. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in R.T. Foard and Jones Funeral Home, 122 W. Main St., Newark. Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home, where friends also may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Gracelawn Memorial Park, New Castle. The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Lung Association in care of the funeral home, whose ZIP code is 19711. --------------------------------------------------------------- * William J. 'Bill' Iverson, 56 BENTON, Pa. - William J. "Bill" Iverson of Benton, who had been in ill health since April 2001, died Friday, March 21, 2003, in his home. He was 56. Mr. Iverson was born Aug. 12, 1946, in Hunlock Creek, Luzerne County, son of the late Hans and Elizabeth (Roberts) Iverson. He attended northwest schools. Mr. Iverson served in the U S. Army from 1965 to 1971, stationed in Nuremberg, Germany. He worked as a truck driver and was employed by Heartland Express of Iowa City, Iowa. He retired in April 2001 due to ill health. He had lived in the Benton area since 1976 and at his current address since 1986. He and his wife, the former Ruth Ann Bailey, celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary Dec. 10. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and boating. Mr. Iverson was a member of Bible Baptist Church of Benton. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Sarah Bloom. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a stepdaughter, Carol Ann McNatt, and Mrs. McNatt's husband, Clinton, both of Clayton; three step-grandchildren; two brothers, Norma Iverson of Miami and Arthur Iverson of Dover, Del.; and five sisters and a brother-in-law, Ida Dodson and Emylyn Iverson, both of Hunlock Creek, Betty Oakley of Kingston, Jeanette Iverson of Benton and Elaine and Larry Bower of Smyrna, Del. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in McMichael Funeral Home Inc., 4394 Red Rock Road (Pa. 4871), Benton. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Daniels and Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad St., Middletown, Del. The Rev. Paul S. Moseley Sr., pastor of the Bible Baptist Church of Benton, will officiate. Burial will be in Massey Cemetery, Massey, Md. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Bible Baptist Church, Benton, PA 17814. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Gregory Phillip Love, 26 GEORGETOWN - Gregory Phillip Love of Georgetown was pronounced dead Wednesday, March 19, 2003, near Felton. The cause of death is under investigation by the State Medical Examiner's Office. He was 26. Mr. Love graduated from Milford High School with the class of 1994. He attended Delaware Technical and Community College, Georgetown Campus, for two years. His love of baseball kept him involved in the sport for six years, starting with the Milford Little League and progressing to the Senior League team. Mr. Love also participated in a Christian organization called Young Life. He is survived by his father, Gregory Love of New Castle; his mother and stepfather, Helen Lynn and Larry Hills of Milford; a brother, Adam R. Love of Maryland; a half-sister, Rachel M. Hills of Milford; maternal grandparents, Arthur and Jean Bradley, and paternal grandparents, Alfred and Catherine Love, all of Milford; and several aunts and uncles. Services and burial will be private. Arrangements by Rogers Funeral Home, Milford. Letters of condolence may be made at www.delmarvaobits.com/rogers. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Helene V. Street, 69 BRIDGEVILLE - Helene Virginia Street of Bridgeville died, after a long battle with cancer, Saturday, March 22, 2003, in Satellite Beach, Fla. She was 69. Mrs. Street was born Oct. 22, 1933, in Charleston, S.C., daughter of the late Gordon W. and Luella Heape Johnson. She was the owner and operator of Street's Produce Market in Bridgeville for 21 years. Mrs. Street attended Eagle's Nest Church in Bridgeville. She and her late husband accepted the great commission to witness to everyone every day. They knew and shared God's unconditional love. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Street Sr., Aug. 14, 1995. She is survived by two sons and two daughters-in-law, John C. Street Jr. and Debbie Street and Paris V. and Elisha Street, all of Bridgeville; three grandchildren, Michael Street, Daniel Street and Megan Street, all of Bridgeville; a brother and sister-in-law, Gordon and Jessie Johnson of Florida; two sisters, Anita Bieske and Laura Hammac, both of Florida; and several nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Eagle's Nest Fellowship Church on Sussex Highway (U.S. 13) in Bridgeville. Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in the church. The Rev. Rick Betts will officiate. Burial will be in Bridgeville Cemetery in Bridgeville. Arrangements by Framptom-Hawkins-Eskow Funeral Home P.A. in Federalsburg, Md. ---------------------------------------------------------------