Sussex County, Delaware - Obits: from The Cape Gazette ************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Melinda Jarvis Devereaux ************************************************************************** Ronald F. "Ronnie" Calhoun * Ronald F. "Ronnie" Calhoun, 44, of Georgetown, died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at Bayhealth at Milford Memorial Hospital. Mr. Calhoun was born in Milton, the son of the late James P. Calhoun Sr., who died in 1997, and Betty Kenton Lewis of Georgetown. He was employed with C&J Paving & Co. in Milton and was a member of the Camden-Wyoming Moose Lodge 203. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. In addition to his mother, he is survived by two brothers, James P. Jr. and George "Eddie," both of Milton; four sisters, Laura Ann Brown of Milton, Brenda Bowden of Georgetown, Dawn Keedy of Millsboro and Sherry Reed of Milton; five stepbrothers and sisters, Martha Heck of Milton, Linda Reibsome of Milford, Jerry Owens of Florida, Terry Owens of Lewes and Ray Owens of Millsboro; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Short Funeral Services, Milton, with burial in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Milton. Arrangements by Short Funeral Services, Milton. --------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas A. Miller * Thomas A. Miller, 27, of Ellendale, and formerly of New Castle, died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He is survived by his daughter, Casey Lynn of Rehoboth; his father, Thomas A. Miller Sr. and stepmother Janet L. Miller of Newark; his sister, Michelle Rene Miller of Newark; his brother, Gregory J. Miller of New Castle; his stepbrothers, Daniel C. Saienni Jr., Carl O. Richards, Jacob Richards; his nephew, Daniel W. Rimmer, all of Newark; his grandmother, Margaret M. Miller of New Castle; Rosemarie Roe and Donna Simpson, who helped raise him; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Gebhart Funeral Home, New Castle, with burial in Gracelawn Memorial Park, New Castle. --------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Arthur Neal Jr. * Richard Arthur Neal Jr., 82, of Lewes and formerly of Delaware City, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003 in the home of his son and caretaker. Mr. Neal graduated from Howard High School in Wilmington. He joined the U.S. Army, serving in World War II. After his service duty, he was employed by Wiltex in Wilmington, where he worked for 35 years, retiring as supervisor in 1985. He and his wife made their home in Delaware City where they reared their family. Mr. Neal was a member of Old Fort UAME Church in Christiana. He served as janitor, choir member, pastor's steward, trustee and trustee for the conference. He was also a member of the Delaware City American Legion post and was the first African-American to serve as a councilman in the government of Delaware City. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Georgeanna Anderson Neal in 1976; and by a son, Norman A., in October 2002. He is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Richard P. and Sandra Neal of Lewes and Franklin S. Neal of Denver; three sisters, Lavenia N. Cole and Emma M. Williams of Christiana and Mary E. Cole of Wilmington; and three brothers, the Rev. Paul L. Neal Sr. and the Rev. Delmas P. Neal Sr., both of Christiana, and John W. Neal of Newport. Services were held at St. Paul's UAME Church, Wilmington, with burial in Gracelawn Memorial Park, Wilmington. --------------------------------------------------------------- John A. Diffenderfer * John A. Diffenderfer, 43, of New Castle, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003, at home. Mr. Diffenderfer was born at the Wiesbaden Air Force Base in Germany, the son of Jack and Nancy Diffenderfer, and had been a lifelong resident of the New Castle area. He was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Christiana. He had served his country proudly as a member of the U.S. Navy during the Persian Gulf War. He was employed by Industraplate Corp. of Wilmington as a metal finisher for the past 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Barbara M. Diffenderfer; his parents, Jack and Nancy of Newark; a brother, David M. of Milton; his grandmother, Charlotte Cassell of Seaford; and an aunt, Louise Smith of Newark. Services were held at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Christiana with burial in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bear. Contributions are suggested to the Salvation Army, 400 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 or to the Delaware Humane Association, 701 A. Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. --------------------------------------------------------------- David Reid Parks * David Reid Parks, 77, of Wilmington, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003, at the Forwood Manor Health Center. Mr. Parks worked at the Sun Company for 32 years, retiring in 1984 as the manager of systems coordination for transportation and customer service. During World War II, he was a bombardier in the Army Air Corps. He was a member of the VFW and the Eureka DuPont Masonic Lodge #29, He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shirley R. Parks; three daughters, Carol Anne Mesmer and Suzanne I. Huber, both of Wilmington, and Deborah L. Derogna of Rehoboth Beach; a brother, Robert H. of New York City; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Services were held at McCrery Memorial Funeral Home, Wilmington, with burial private. --------------------------------------------------------------- 1/22/03 Kathryn Boynton Harris, avid golfer, gardener Kathyrn Boynton Harris, 82, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, of cancer. Mrs. Harris was born Feb. 16, 1920, in Albany, Ga., the eighth of nine children of Moses Tilden Boynton and Ouida Cannon Boynton. She grew up in Albany, graduating from Albany High School and from the University of Georgia with a degree in home economics. She married J. Robert Harris Jr. on Sept. 10, 1941, and resided in Bethesda, Md. She enjoyed pottery, gourmet cooking, gardening, tennis and golf. She twice experienced a hole-in-one, the first at Rehoboth Country Club and the second at the Card Sound Golf Club in Key Largo, Fla. She was a longtime member of the Bethesda Women's Garden Club and was active with St. John's Episcopal Church in Bethesda, Md. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, J. Robert Harris Jr. of Key Largo, Fla. and Rehoboth Beach; four children, Janette Crespo of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Susan McHugh of Naples, Fla., J. Robert Harris III of Glen Arm, Md., and Richard T. Harris of Millers, Md.; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003 at the Ocean Reef Chapel, Key Largo, and a second service will be held during the summer in Rehoboth Beach. Contributions are suggested to Hospice Care of Southeast Florida Inc., 91256 Overseas Highway, Tavenier, FL 33070. Back to top Marjorie S. Keiper, former Doll Center owner Marjorie S. Keiper, 68, of Lewes, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at home. Mrs. Keiper was born in Scranton, Pa. She was a creator of teddy bears and was known for collecting and restoring dolls. She formerly owned the Doll Center on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband, F. Warren Keiper in 1986, and a brother, Phillip Solsman. She is survived by two sons, Andrew E. Keiper of Ocean View and Frederick W. Keiper Jr. of Napoleon, Ohio; a sister, Carol McCauley of Long Neck; seven granddaughters; and three great-granddaughters. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Parsell Funeral Homes, Lewes, with burial in All Saints Cemetery, near Angola. Contributions are suggested to Delaware Hospice, Southern Division, 600 N. DuPont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lewes. Back to top Gregory A. Short, grocery produce worker Gregory A. Short, 49, of Lewes and formerly of Millsboro, died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, at home. Mr. Short was born in Lewes, the son of Milford J. Moore Short and the late John M. Short. Mr. Short previously worked at the Acme store in Millsboro, Hocker's Grocery in Clarksville and Food Lion in Millsboro and in Long Neck in the produce departments. In addition to his mother, he is survived by a son, Dallas J. Short of Ephrata, Pa.; a brother, Kenneth L. of Mount Carmel, Pa.; a half-brother, Richard L. of Seaford; and by his companion, Judy Theur of Lewes. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, in Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro, with burial in Millsboro Cemetery. Back to top Thomas R. Koons, gas company manager Thomas R. Koons, 75, of rural Millsboro, and formerly of Harrisburg, Pa., died Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. Mr. Koons was a retired manufacturer's representative and a manager of an L.P. Gas company. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy; a member of American Legion Post 28 of Riverdale and Oak Orchard; Mason-Dixon VFW Post 7234 of Ocean View; Masonic Lodge 629; and the Zembo Temple Shrine, both of Harrisburg. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Beverly Anne Koons; a son, Thomas F. Koons; two daughters, Chenlye Lauer and Linda Gross; two grandchildren, Christopher Gross and Thomas F. Koons Jr. Services will be held at noon Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Long Neck chapel of Melson Funeral Homes, Long Neck, with burial in Indiantown Gap National Veterans Cemetery, Annville, Pa. Contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association, Sussex chapter, 600 DuPont Highway, Georgetown DE 19947 or the American Cancer Society, 228 C N. DuPont Highway, Georgetown DE 19947. Arrangements by Melson Funeral Services, Long Neck. Back to top 1/23/03 Charles Lee Gildon, retired vice president Charles Lee Gildon, 67, of Lewes, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, at home from lymphoma. Mr. Gildon retired in 1995 as vice president of Shirley Contracting Corp. in Lorton, Va. after 25 years of service. He is survived by his wife, Dixie Anne Gildon; a daughter, Cherie Bell of Lewes; three sons, Charles Gildon of Fairfax, Va., Trevor Gildon of Lewes and Seyla Kong of Gaithersburg, Md.; and three nieces, Richelle Marvel of Lewes, Deberah Coffman of Beltsville, Md. and Donna Poindexter of Germantown, Md.; and nine grandchildren. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, Route 1, Lewes, with burial private. Contributions are suggested to Compassionate Care Hospice, 5610 Kirkwood Hwy., Wilmington DE 19808, or Tunnell Cancer Center, C/O Beebe Medical Center, 24 Savannah Rd., Lewes, DE 19958. Arrangements were made by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes. Stewart Ponder, cost engineer Stewart Ponder, 85, of Massey, Md., died of heart failure Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at home. Mr. Ponder attended the University of Pennsylvania and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of WWII. He had worked for Playtex and ILC as a cost engineer. He was a member of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, Warwick, Md. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Sullivan Ponder; two daughters, Patricia Ann Rossiter of Georgetown and Sara England of Townsend; a brother, Fred Ponder of Orangeburg, S.C.; seven grandchildren, Donald L. Spinden with whom he lived, Debbie Morrison of Milton, Kelly Rossiter and Tracy Donovan, both of New Castle, Gordon Rossiter of Georgetown and James England and Thomas England, both of Georgetown; and six great-grandchildren. Services will be private. Contributions are suggested to Northern Chesapeake Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 2332, Elkton, Md., 21922. Arrangements were made by Galena Funeral Home.