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 ************************************************************************** Frances F. Callaghan * Frances F. Callaghan, 54, of Lewes, and formerly of Brooklyn. N.Y., died Thursday, Jan. 16. 2003, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. Mrs. Callaghan had been employed as a secretary for the New York Telephone Company for 15 years. She was a member of the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Brooklyn where she had been a CCD teacher for 10 years. She was also a member of St. Edmond's Catholic Church, Rehoboth Beach, where she taught CCD classes for a short time. She was a past president of the Columbiettes and a past president of the Parent Association for Bishop Ford High School. Mrs. Callaghan is survived by her husband, Patrick, of Lewes; two children, James and Patricia, both at home; and a sister, Joann, of Washington State. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at St. Edmond's Catholic Church, Rehoboth Beach, with burial in Henlopen Memorial Park near Milton. Contributions are suggested to the Renal Dialysis Center at Beebe Medical Center, Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes '&;' Crematorium, Lewes. --------------------------------------------------------------- John A. Fisher Sr. * John A. Fisher Sr., 83, of New Castle, died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, at Christiana Hospital. Mr. Fisher was a welder by trade. In his youth, he worked on the estate of F. Scott Fitzgerald in grounds maintenance. He had a long career in metal construction and facility maintenance. He worked for the Edgemoor Iron Works and the DuPont Company at the Newport site, then retired in 1984 as a supervisor from Delmarva Power '&;' Light Company in Delaware City after 24 years of service. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving as a second class seaman in the Pacific Fleet aboard the USS Arkansas. He was a proud American and a member of both the Wilmington Veterans of Foreign Wars and Joseph B Stahl Post 30, American Legion. In his leisure time, he enjoyed visiting the beach at Ocean City, Md. and watching baseball and horse racing. He was also an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan. He is survived by his wife, Wanda Cecile Krajewski Fisher; his children, Charlotte C. Ennis and her husband William T. of New Castle, Elaine Clair and her husband Thomas of Seffner, Fla., John A. Fisher Jr. and his wife Dianne of Glasgow, Janice Thrasher and her husband Charles T. Jr. of Newark, and Michele Casey and her husband Thomas of Seaford; his brother, Aubray Fisher and his wife Claire of Angola; three sisters, Ada Moore of Newark, Doris Conrad and her husband Lou of Robertsville, Mo., and Iris Mae Bradbury of Media, Pa.; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter, Lauren Nicole. Services were held at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, New Castle, with burial in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear. --------------------------------------------------------------- George L. Legates Sr. * George L. Legates Sr., 64, of Felton, died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, in Bayhealth-Milton Memorial Hospital. Mr. Legates was born in Felton the son of Lottie R. Green and the late Kenneth Nelson Legates. He had served in the National Guard. He worked for Swift and Delaware-Maryland Railroad for several years, retiring in 2002, then worked for Seawatch Int. of Milford. In addition to his mother, he is survived by a sister, Shirley Maloney of Frederica; seven sons and three daughters-in-law, George and Thelma Legates Jr. of Houston, Tony and Sandy Legates of Milford, David and Rhonda Legates of Harrington, Paul Legates of Greenwood, Donnie Legates of Milton, Brian Legates of Arkansas and Carlos Gonzalez of Laredo, Texas; a daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and John Paul of Mt. Vernon, Ga.; six grandchildren, George Legates III, Roy Legates, Brooke Legates, David Legates Jr., Heather Legates and Justin Legates; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Services were held in Berry Short Funeral Home, Milford, with burial in Hollywood Cemetery, Harrington. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------