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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 ************************************************************************** * James R. Austin, 69 SEAFORD - James R. Austin of Seaford died Saturday, March 1, 2003, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. He was 69. Mr. Austin was a veteran of the U.S. Army He retired from the DuPont Co. in Seaford in 1989 Mr. Austin was a member of the American Legion in Seaford. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Sheila Austin; a son, James M. Austin of Delmar, Md.; a daughter, Tammy Davenport of Greenwood; a stepdaughter, Donna Weldon of Seaford; four grandchildren, Andy Davenport, Seth Wheatley, Tyler Wheatley and Stacey Rosa; and a great-granddaughter. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday 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. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Woodrow Wilson Biddle Jr., 63 MAGNOLIA - Woodrow Wilson Biddle Jr. of Magnolia died Saturday, March 1, 2003, in his home, surrounded by his family. He was 63. Mr. Biddle was born April 22, 1939, in Smyrna, son of the late Woodrow W. and Edna (Clough) Biddle. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Mr. Biddle was a self-employed mechanic/trucker, retiring due to illness. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Duke Biddle and George Biddle; and three sisters, Mary Biddle, Elsie Dixon and Alberta Godard. He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Pamela M. Biddle; three sons, Keith K. Biddle, as well as Keith's fiancée, Christina Miller, and Jimmy Biddle, all of Dover, and Woodrow W. Biddle III of Wilmington; three daughters, Jessica Biddle, as well as Jessica's fiancé, Mark Kennedy, both of Magnolia, Heather Biddle of the family home and Charlotte of California; a brother and sister-in- law, John M. and Nancy Biddle of Camden; two sisters, Beverly Savin of Smyrna and Betty Biddle, as well as Betty's companion, Ray Vanderwater, both of Dover; six grandchildren, including Jasmine and Little Mark Kennedy, both of Magnolia; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden- Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to help defray funeral expenses. Letters of condolences may be made at www.delmarvaobits.com or www.pippinfuneralhome.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Helen S. Coffin, 80 DOVER - Helen S. Coffin of Dover died of complications of injuries sustained in an earlier fall, Sunday, March 2, 2003, in Christiana Hospital of Christiana Care, Newark. She was 80. Mrs. Coffin was born Dec. 4, 1922, in Atlanta. She moved to Delaware at a very young age. She first worked for Masten Trucking Co. in Georgetown, where she met her husband. They moved to the Dover area in the 1950s. After moving to Dover, she worked for Kent County Motors for 53 years as secretary and bookkeeper. She was a devoted mother and wife. Mrs. Coffin was a member of the Maranatha Baptist Church, where she belonged to the Ladies Fellowship and served as treasurer. She was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary and served as treasurer for many years. She volunteered at W.B. Simpson School, where she taught computer skills to second- graders. She was preceded in death by her husband, John R. Coffin Sr., in 1979. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, John R. Coffin Jr. and Janeen Coffin of Camden; a daughter, Muriel H. Carey of Bear; 12 grandchildren and the respective spouses of five, John R. Coffin III and Jennifer Coffin, Deborah Carey, Denise Carey, Mary and James Smalley, Jamie and Steve Basler, Janet and Ralph Smith, Laurie Coffin, Erin Shrader, Jesse and Laurie Shrader, Amanda Coffin, Joshua Coffin and Jason Coffin; and 12 great-grandchildren, Roy Bryant III, Ben Bryant, Nathaniel Smalley, Ethan Smalley, Evan Smalley, Christian Smalley, Mary Atkins, Nathan Coffin, Christina Hillman, Sarah Hillman, Jacob Smith and Daniel Smith, as well as an as-yet-unborn great-great-grandchild, Sophia Basler. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover. Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday in the funeral chapel. Burial will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Autism Society of Delaware, PO Box 7336, Wilmington, DE 19803. Letters of condolence may be made at delmarvaobits.com/torbert. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Michael K. Coulson, 51 MARYDEL - Michael K. Coulson of Marydel died peacefully of complications of lung cancer Friday, Feb. 28, 2003, in the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Wilmington, near Elsmere, surrounded by his family. He was 51. Mr. Coulson was born Aug. 8, 1951, in Orlando, Fla., son of Alfred Coulson of Marydel and the late Eleanor Fay Coulson, who died in 1980. He grew up in the Marydel-Dover area and graduated from Caesar Rodney High School. Mr. Coulson served in the U.S. Marine Corps and attained the rank of corporal. He worked as a carpenter for many years, and most recently was an independent over-the-road truck driver, usually hauling hazardous materials. Mr. Coulson was a free-spirited man who lived his life to the fullest. He enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycles and working on motors, as well as training, racing and owning harness horses and being with his family and friends. In addition to his father, he is survived by two daughters, Becky Lee Coulson of Frederica and Jessica Faye Stamas of Dover; two sisters, Darlene Coulson of Houston, Texas, and Wendy S. Strauss of Marydel; and two grandchildren, Idalis Leigh and Bryanna Michelle. Friends and family may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Torbert Funeral Chapel, 61 S. Bradford St., Dover. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral chapel. Burial will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, 1601 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803-3612. --------------------------------------------------------------- * The Rev. James P. Schuler, 84 MAGNOLIA - The Rev. James P. Schuler of Magnolia died of natural causes Friday, Feb. 28, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 84. The Rev. Schuler was born in Willow Grove, son of the late Oliver and Bessie (Wyatt) Schuler. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II, serving in the 45th Infantry Division, and was an expert marksman. He was among those that stormed the beaches, first at Anzio in Italy, and then, at Normandy in France. He lost his left leg in a landmine explosion. Among the many medals he received was the Purple Heart. He worked for the Playtex Corp. as a machinist for 30 years. He also was a farmer. The Rev. Schuler founded Victory Chapel in Dover and served as its pastor/ deacon for many years. He also served as pastor for the Modem Maturity Center Bible Study and day care. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sallie (Lofland) Schuler; a daughter, Ruth Ann Farrow of Magnolia; a sister, Jeanette French of Greenwood; a brother, Oliver Schuler Jr. of Wilmington; four grandchildren, Jeff Farrow, Randy Farrow, Kenny Farrow and Ronnie Farrow; and two great-grandchildren, Amanda Yanucci and Logan Yanucci. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, Main Street, Felton. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral chapel. Burial will be in Barratt's Chapel Cemetery, near Frederica. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Lawrence C. Spicer, 73 GEORGETOWN - Lawrence C. Spicer of Georgetown died Friday, Feb. 28, 2003, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. He was 73. Mr. Spicer was born in Georgetown, son of the late Lawrence and Pearl (Fleetwood) Spicer He served at class president for Georgetown High School in 1948 and was co-captain of the undefeated football team. Mr. Spicer was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He worked as a forklift operator for Draper Canning Co. and on road construction with George and Lynch for many years. He enjoyed golfing and playing pool. Mr. Spicer was a member of the Milton Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He is survived by a niece, Charlene Calhoun of Georgetown; a nephew, Charles K. Short of Millsboro; and a sister, Elva S. Short of Millsboro. Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 809 E. Market St., Georgetown, Delaware where friends may call two hours earlier. Burial will be in Cokesbury Cemetery, Georgetown. The family suggests contributions to Cokesbury Church, Georgetown, DE 19947. ---------------------------------------------------------------