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Richard Lee Dennis, Pan Am retiree

October 21, 2013

Richard Lee Dennis, 91, of Avon Park, Fla., formerly of Lewes, passed away Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, at Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center in Sebring, Fla. He was born in Berlin, Md., Feb. 11, 1922, son of the late Virgil and Bertha Dennis.

Mr. Dennis graduated from Lewes High School, Class of 1940, after which time he served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

While living in Delaware, he was a member of the Lewes Rotary Club, coached boys Little League, and taught Sunday school at Lewes Presbyterian Church where he was a member and served as an elder.

In 1967 Mr. Dennis moved to Florida and worked for National Airlines/Pan Am in Miami, Fl. until his retirement. After retirement he continued to work with Pan Am doing charter flights with the Miami Dolphins (his favorite football team) as head of catering and planning.

He was a sports fanatic and would always find some way to support the game by keeping score at basketball games and tending the score board at football games for many years. In his youth he was an avid player of many different sports and enjoyed playing golf in later years. He spent his summers in Lewes and winters in Florida.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Ralton H. Dennis of Lewes; his wife of 55 years, Genevieve Ellis Dennis and second wife Ethel Dennis. He is survived by three daughters, Bonnie Lingo of Lewes, Terry Isaacs and husband Hobby of Ellendale, and Cindy Black and husband Lonnie of Avon Park, (who was the primary caregiver the past two years); stepdaughters Hope Holloway and husband Jay of Bridgeville, and Julia Ellis-Hall of Lewes; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m., at Epworth Cemetery, Henlopen Avenue, Rehoboth.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Lewes Fire Department, P.O. Box 225, Lewes, DE 19958.

 

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