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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 ************************************************************************** * A. Isabelle Fowler Bartz, 90 CHESTERTOWN, Md. - A. Isabelle Fowler Bartz of Chestertown died of natural causes Thursday, March 27, 2003, in Magnolia Hall Nursing Home in Chestertown. She was 90. Mrs. Bartz was born May 31, 1912, in Worton, daughter of the late Elwood and Anna Mae Elburn Fowler. She was educated at Flatland Elementary School and graduated from Chestertown High School with the class of 1929. She attended Salisbury State Teachers College (now Salisbury University) and taught school in Salisbury for two years. She then attended Strayer Bryant and Stratton Business School. Mrs. Bartz was employed by the Farmers Home Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 32 years, retiring in 1973. She enjoyed gardening, sewing and researching genealogy. Following her retirement, Mrs. Bartz served as secretary of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. She was an active member of Christ United Methodist Church in Chestertown, In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 29 years, Emil Bartz, in 1977. She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Mary Bartz Capel and Marie Bartz, both of Chestertown; numerous nephews and nieces on her husband's side; and numerous cousins. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home, 130 Speer Road, Chestertown, where relatives and friends may call one hour earlier. The Rev. Eleanor Laws will officiate. Burial will be in Chester Cemetery, Chestertown. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Christ United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 262, Chestertown, MD 21620. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Richard Blades, 53 SUDLERSVILLE, Md. - Richard Blades of Sudlersville died of natural causes Tuesday, March 25, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 53. Mr. Blades was born Jan. 30, 1950, in Easton. He served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Mr. Blades worked for the past 25 years as a welder for Metal Masters in Clayton, Del. He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Blades. He is survived by his mother, Lorraine Mosley of Washington state; a daughter, April Johnson of Camden, Del.; two sons, Richard Blades Jr. and Roman Blades, both of Sudlersville; a brother, Kenneth Blades of Easton; his companion of 15 years, Terry Bowers; and a granddaughter, Jada Johnson. Services and burial will be private. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Home of the Brave, 6632 Sharps Road, Milford, DE 19963. Letters of condolences may be made at www.delmarvaobits.com or www.pippinfuneralhome.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Bette L. Hedstrom Chaffinch, 70 SEAFORD - Bette L. Hedstrom Chaffinch of Seaford died peacefully, after a short battle with cancer, Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in her home. She was 70. Mrs. Chaffinch was an active member of the Nanticoke Senior Center. She is survived by her husband, Wilson "Pete" Chaffinch; two sons and two daughters-in-law, Wayne and Saundra More of Seaford and Kirk and Linda Hedstrom of Greenwood; a daughter, Vicki Dorey, and Ms. Dorey's companion, Rob Jefferson, both of Seaford; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Gladys and Ken Graham of Seaford; two brothers-in-law, Jack and Howard Chaffinch of Blades; her mother- in-law, Mary Chaffinch of Blades; seven brothers, Joe Parker, O. Parker, Donald Parker and Jerry Parker, all of Georgetown, Dale Parker of Blades and Ralph Parker and Richard Parker, both of Laurel; three sisters, Doris Moore of Oak Orchard, Pat Harris of Seaford and Janet Ware of Georgetown; six grandchildren, Brian Dorey, Justin Dorey, Beau Moore, Nicole Moore, Nadine Moore and Kristen Hedstrom; and five great-grandchildren. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in the Cranston Funeral Home, 300 N. Shipley St., Seaford, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Seaford. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice Inc., 600 Du Pont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Andy Chupp Sr., 88 GREENWOOD - Andy Chupp Sr. of Greenwood died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in his home. He was 88. Mr. Chupp was born Jan. 23, 1915, in Arthur, Ill., son of the late John and Martha (Stutzman) Chupp. He was a carpenter. Mr. Chupp was a member of Cannon Mennonite Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister; six brothers; and a great-grandchild. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Eva Byler Chupp; seven children and their respective spouses, Molly and Mickey Lauck, Menno and Dorothy Chupp and Carl and Susan Chupp, all of Greenwood, Evalina and Bob Kopp of Harrington, Andrew and Kathy Chupp and Lydia and Richard Trice, all of Seaford, and Steve and Marcia Chupp of Georgetown; 21 grandchildren; 32 great- grandchildren; and a brother, Menno Chupp of Arthur. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today in Cannon Mennonite Church, Del. 18, one mile west of U.S. 13. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in the church, where friends also may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Cannon Mennonite Church Building Fund, c/o Clinton Yoder, 12005 Woodbridge Road, Greenwood, DE 19950. Arrangements by Fleischauer Funeral Home, Greenwood. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Andrew Woodall Cochran Jr., 79 TOWNSEND - Andrew Woodall Cochran Jr. of Townsend died Tuesday, March 25, 2003, in Christiana Hospital of Christiana Care, Newark, with his family by his side. He was 79. Mr. Cochran was a graduate of Middletown High School and of the University of Delaware, class of 1949. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and served with Company B, 160th Engineer Combat Battalion, as a staff sergeant, landing with the second wave of soldiers on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion. Mr. Cochran was a grain and dairy farmer for more than 40 years until his retirement. His farm, near Townsend, received the Farm of Distinction award for several years. He was a lover of the "big band sound" and was a drummer in the Charlie Lewis and Al Green bands during the 1940s and 1950s. Mr. Cochran was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3792 in Middletown, and the Immanuel United Methodist in Townsend. He also had served as a past director and treasurer of the Townsend Building and Loan Association. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Woodall Cochran Sr. and Leah Cochran Bates. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rose-Jean; two daughters and a son- in-law, Katharine C. and Howard Webb of Milford and Sarah J. Cochran of Townsend; a granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Kristin Webb Patey and Scott Patey of Delmar; a grandson, H. Andrew Webb of Milford; a sister, Georgeanne C. White of Orlando, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be noon Saturday in the Immanuel United Methodist Church, Main Street, Townsend, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in the Townsend Cemetery. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Immanuel U.M. Church, PO Box 60, Townsend, DE 19734; to the American Heart Association, 1096 Old Churchmans Road, Newark, DE 19713; or to the Arthritis Foundation of Delaware, 100 W. 10th St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Arrangements by Daniels and Hutchison Funeral Home, Middletown. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Rosa Lea Furbush, 66 CLARKSVILLE - Rosa Lea Furbush of Clarksville died of complications of diabetes Tuesday, March 25, 2003, in the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore with her husband and children at her side. She was 66. Mrs. Furbush was born in Frankford, daughter of the late Raymond and Estella Rogers Rickards. She was a homemaker. She married John Furbush in 1956 and moved to New Jersey, where they raised their family. They returned "home" in 1993 to enjoy their retirement in Clarksville. Mrs. Furbush attended the Frankford United Methodist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Rickards and Ronald Rickards; and three sisters, Mildred Littleton, Rosetta Chandler and Pauline West. In addition to her loving husband of 46 years, she is survived by three children and their respective spouses, Rosemary and Robert Connell of New Castle, Perry and Lisa Furbush of Tinton Falls, N.J., and Bret and Margaret Furbush of Parlin, N.J.; seven grandchildren; and three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Margaret Lynch of Selbyville and Thelma and Ray Wells and Jean and Marvin McCabe, all of Frankford. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in the Frankford chapel of Melson Funeral Services, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Carey's Cemetery in Frankford. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Frankford United Methodist Church, PO Box 37, Frankford, DE 19947. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Martha Watts Hockman, 44 LEWES - Martha Watts Hockman of Lewes died of complications of lung cancer Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. She was 44. Mrs. Hockman enjoyed music, especially reggae, and, as a hobby, was a band manager for several bands. She was preceded in death by her second husband, David Watts, Dec. 25, 1991. She is survived by her third husband, Keith E. Hockman; two sons, Karl Chalabala and Joshua Watts, both of Lewes; her parents, Harry Cox of South Carolina and Beatrice Carter of Florida; two sisters, Angela Sanderson and Georgianna Pendexter, both of Florida; two mothers-in-law, Peggy Hockman and Jean Johnson, both of Lewes; and her best friend, Denise Fulmer of Georgetown. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Parsell Funeral Homes '&;' Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 1449 Kings Highway, Lewes. Services will be 2 p.m. Monday in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Second Street, Lewes. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Pilottown, Lewes. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Lupus Foundation, 405 Burnside Blvd., Wilmington, DE 19801. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Frances M. Jones, 82 EASTON - Frances M. Jones of Easton, originally from Seaford, Del., died Thursday, March 20, 2003, in Memorial Hospital at Easton, Easton. She was 82. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Citadel of Hope Church, Seaford. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Henry Funeral Home, PA, Cambridge, where friends also may call one hour earlier. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Ruth Thomas Leary, 83 ROCK HALL, Md. - Ruth Thomas Leary of Rock Hall died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in Kent and Queen Anne's Hospital in Chestertown. She was 83. Mrs. Leary was born July 12, 1919, in Stevensville, daughter of the late Arthur and Sarah Thomas. After graduating from high school, she attended Washington College in Chestertown and graduated with the class of 1939. Mrs. Leary then married Wiilliam Leonard Leary and resided in Rock Hall. She worked as an assistant clerk in Chestertown with the Kent County Draft Board for seven years before taking a position as a social worker with the Cecil County Department of Social Services, a position which she held for 20 years until she retired. She enjoyed gardening, knitting, crocheting and needlepoint, and had an extensive collection of Indian artifacts and shells. Mrs. Leary was a member of the Rock Hall United Methodist Church Adult Club. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Oct. 29, 2000. She is survived by a son, Lenny Leary of Rock Hall; and three close friends, Beverly Ashley, Phyllis Sisco and Kim Morgan. Services will be 7 p.m. Monday in Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home, Md. 20, Rock Hall, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be private. The family suggests memorial contributions to Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Co., P O Box 577 Rock Hall, MD 21661. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home, Rock Hall, Md --------------------------------------------------------------- * Esther Cole McCrystal DOVER - Esther Cole McCrystal of Dover died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. She was 88. Mrs. McCrystal was born July 13, 1914, in Smyrna, daughter of the late Harvey Short and Elizabeth Mae Cole Short. She enjoyed refinishing furniture, canning, cooking, traveling and gardening. Mrs. McCrystal was a member of the Women's Society of the Cheswold United Methodist Church and taught Sunday School. She was also a member of the Leipsic Homemakers Club. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Norman L. Cook; three brothers, Arthur, Earl and Foster Short; and a sister, Ruth Singleton. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, James G. McCrystal; a son and daughter-in-law, James J. and Pamela McCrystal of Wyoming; a sister, Dorothy Jones of Greenwood; four grandchildren, Norma Lee Chaney, David M., Brian J. and Matthew L. McCrystal; and three great-grandsons, Andrew, Brandon and Ryan McCrystal. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Torbert Funeral Chapel, 61 S. Bradford St, Dover, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna. Letters of condolence may be made to www.delmarvaobits.com/torbert. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Howard Thomas Messick, 76 DELMAR - Howard Thomas Messick of Delmar died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in his home. He was 76. Mr. Messick was born in Delmar, son of the late Edmund P. and Irma L. Messick. He was a former employee at Atlantic Refining Co. in Philadelphia as a draftsman. Prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army, he moved back to Delmar, where he was a poultry farmer and a surveyor for P.J. Hannon in Salisbury, Md. Then, he worked for Bryan and Brittingham Feed and Hardware in Delmar from 1972 to 1989. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Edmund P. Messick Jr. He is survived by three brothers, Robert J. Messick and Donald E. Messick, both of Delmar, and James A. Messick of Salisbury, Md.; two nieces; and a nephew. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Short Funeral Home, 13 E. Grove St. Delmar, where friends may call one hour earlier. The Rev. Lou Bradley and the Rev. Steve Wagner will officiate. Burial will be in Smith Mills Cemetery, Delmar. The family suggests memorial contributions to Smith Mills Cemetery, c/o Mr. Dave Brumbley, 534 N. Phillips St., Seaford, DE 19973. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Isabelle A. Nagy, 89 LEWES - Isabelle A. Nagy of Lewes died of natural causes Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in Harbor Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Lewes. She was 89. Mrs. Nagy was born in Phillipsburg, N.J., daughter of the late Henry G. and Elizabeth (Morden) Merwarth. She was a homemaker. She was one of the first employees at Edgehill Pharmacy in Lewes, and worked there for several years. Mrs. Nagy loved to read and was very devoted to her family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Nagy, in 1983; and a daughter, Joan Nagy, in 1998. She is survived by two daughters, Michele "Mickey" Vessels and Arden L. Nagy, both of Lewes; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in the Lewes Presbyterian Cemetery, Kings Highway, Lewes. The Rev. Harry Hughes will officiate. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lewes Fire Department, P.O. Box 225, Lewes, DE 19958; or to the Lewes Presbyterian Church, PO Box 612, Lewes, DE 19958. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Home and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Virginia Passwaters Parker Sammons, 66 SEAFORD - Virginia Passwaters Parker Sammons of Seaford died of complications of cancer Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in her home. She was 66. Mrs. Sammons was born in Bridgeville, daughter of the late Branch Albert and Dora Lee Jester Passwaters. She was a graduate of Seaford High School. She worked as a teacher's aide at Howard T. Ennis School in Georgetown, retiring in June 2002 after 32 years of service. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph William Sammons died in 1991; three brothers, Branch Henry Passwaters, William Leon Passwaters and Laurence Jester Passwaters and two sisters, Bessie Mae Passwaters Green and Margaret Irene Passwaters Jewell. She is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Dexter Wade Parker, who resided with her, and Gerald Scott and Debora Parker, both of Seaford; a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca Lynn Parker and Scott Jones of Preston, Md.; a stepdaughter, Heide Sammons and her son, Jerry, both of Dover; a brother, Alton Leroy Passwaters of Seaford; two sisters, Dora Lee Passwaters Zsedeny of New York and Mary Ellen Passwaters Tull of Seaford; two stepgranddaughters, Virginia Ashley Bowland of Laurel and Cody Elizabeth Bowland of Seaford; and a stepgreat- grandson, Rodney Wyatt Jr. of Laurel. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Watson-Yates Funeral Home Front and King streets, Seaford, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Seaford. The family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice Inc., Southern Division, Suite 107, 600 Du Pont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Doris Jean Will, 74 SALISBURY, Md. - Doris Jean Will of Salisbury died Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in the Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury. Mrs. Will was born in Laurel, daughter of the late John Andrew and Myrtle Rebecca Rash. She was a hostess for Howard Johnson's, Holiday Inn and the Elks Lodge. Mrs. Will was a member of Christ United Methodist Church and lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary. She was a volunteer at Peninsula Regional Medical Center and Palms of Pasadena in Florida. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Will, in 1994; and a son, Jerome A. Will Sr., in 2001. She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Brenda J. Foskey of Laurel and Rae J. and Joseph Harmon of Salisbury; a brother, John Andrew Rash Jr. of Laurel; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Service will be 2 p.m. Monday in Christ United Methodist Church in Salisbury, where friends may call one hour earlier. The Rev. Thomas Hurley will officiate. Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in Royal Palm Cemetery Chapel, St. Petersburg, Fla. Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions in her memory to Christ Unified Methodist Church, 211 Phillip Morris Dr., Salisbury, MD 21804. Arrangements by Holloway Funeral Home, Salisbury. --------------------------------------------------------------- * J. Emory Williamson, 93 GREENWOOD - J. Emory Williamson of Greenwood died of natural causes Wednesday, March 26, 2003, in Genesis Elder Care in Milford. He was 93. Mr. Williamson was born May 3, 1909, in Greenwood, son of the late John M. and Belle Davis Williamson. He was born, raised and lived all of his life on the farm, growing field crops and raising poultry. Mr. Williamson graduated from Greenwood High School in 1926. He loved his garden. Mr. Williamson was a member of Greenwood United Methodist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 45 years, Jessie Adams Williamson; a grandson, Steve; and a brother, Howard. He is survived by his second wife of 25 years, Bessie Gears Williamson; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Kenneth and Carol Williamson of Georgetown, Paul and Rosemary Williamson of Milford and John Williamson of Beaver Creek, Ohio; a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Ronald Bennett of Wilmington; two stepchildren, Charles C. Gears Sr. of Houston, Texas and Barbara G. Robinson of Wilmington; eight grandchildren, Sharon, Chris, Rex, Scott, Tim, Michael, Tanya and Michele; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren, Charles Jr., Matt, Bill and Bryan; and two stepgreat- grandchildren. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Fleischauer Funeral Home, Greenwood, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Todd's Chapel Cemetery, Greenwood. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Todd's Chapel Improvement Fund, c/o Jean O'Bier, 22732 S. Du Pont Highway, Greenwood, DE 19950. ---------------------------------------------------------------