09/02/08

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Robert L. Hickman, retired farmer
Robert L. Hickman, 75, of Dagsboro, passed away Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Md.
Mr. Hickman was born in Dagsboro on April 13, 1933, son of the late Everett and Alma Calhoun Hickman.
He was a retired farmer.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Alvin E. Hickman in 1998.
He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Carolyn Bradford Hickman; two sons, Steve and Glenn Hickman; a brother, Gerald B. Hickman; a sister, Jean M. Turner; and two grandchildren.
A graveside service will be at noon, Thursday, Sept. 4, at St. George’s Cemetery in Clarksville.

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Maurice C. Brandner, Mountaire retiree
Maurice C. Brandner, 84, of Millsboro, passed away Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, at the Atlantic Shores Nursing Center in Millsboro.
Mr. Brandner was born July 27, 1924, in Sutton, Neb., to the late Frederick Brandner and Anna Marie Zimmerman Brandner.
He worked in the maintenance department at Mountaire of Delmarva Inc. in Selbyville, retiring in 1989 after 20 years of service. Mr. Brandner enjoyed his family very much. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a past member of the V.F.W.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Selma Jean Chartier Brandner in 1992; and a son, Tony Brandner in 1994.
Mr. Brandner is survived by three sons, Frank Brandner and Rick Brandner, both of Millsboro, and Larry Brandner of Lincoln; three daughters, Judy McGinnis of Delmar, Ruth Lewis of Dagsboro and Teresa Lockerman of Millsboro; a brother, Harvey Brandner of Seaford; a sister, Seatta Murray of Clarksville; 22 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.
Services will be noon, Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call at 11 a.m. Pastor Bob Boyce will officiate the service. Interment will be in Millsboro Cemetery, Millsboro.

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Donna J. Pavusa, Sussex homemaker
Donna J. Pavusa, of Georgetown, passed away Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes.
She was born in Silver Spring, Md., the daughter of the late Lewis and Dorothy Griffin Ball.
She was a homemaker.
She is survived by her companion, Kelvin Wyatt of Georgetown; two daughters, Debra Ball of Millsboro and Christina Ball of Ellendale; two brothers, William Deagro of Charlestown, W.Va., and Alfred Deagro of Louisiana; and two grandchildren, Caleb Ball and Leia Ball.
Funeral services were held in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, Georgetown, with burial in Henlopen Memorial Park, Milton.
Arrangements by Short Funeral Services Inc.

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Margaret E. Hastings, retired waitress
Margaret E. “Elise” Hastings, nee Schuyler, 82, of Millsboro, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, at home.
Elsie enjoyed camping, reading, watching TV and working crossword puzzles.
She had been a waitress at Doyles Restaurant in Selbyville for many years.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Margaret A. Stubbs Schuyler; and her husband Granville Hastings, who passed away in 1988.
She is survived by her children, Brenda J. and Richard Kleber of Andover, N.J., Patricia A. Johnson of Milton, Kenneth E. and Sharon Mulholland of Millsboro, Donald R. and Dee Mulholland of Dagsboro, Barbara J. and Steve Marsh of Seaford, Richard D. and Eileen Mulholland of Milford, and Kathy L. and Greg Thompson of Milford; one brother, Paul and Peggy Schuyler of Dover, one sister-in-law, Grace Schuyler of Shenandoah, Pa.; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Saturday, Aug. 30, at Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro, with burial in Millsboro Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Indian River Fire Company, Station 80, 32628 Oak Orchard Rd., Millsboro, DE 19966.
Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.

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Edward B. Savage, Cargill retiree
Edward Bunting Savage, 89, of Dagsboro passed away Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, at the Berlin Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Berlin, Md. Mr. Savage was born to the late Ollie Savage and Maude McCabe Savage on Dec. 19, 1918, in Selbyville.
Mr. Savage worked at the hatchery of Cargill Inc. in Dagsboro for 26 years, retiring in 1987, and he also was a farmer who grew and sold his own produce.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Violet Catherine Toomey Savage in 1994; a daughter, Joyce Ann Yoder in 2005, four brothers, Ollie, Luther “Doc,” Richard and Carlton Savage; and a granddaughter, Denise.
Mr. Savage is survived by two daughters, Lucille Marie Jones of Pittsville, Md., and Betty Jane Chandler of Frankford; a brother, William Savage of Clarksville; four sisters, Madeline Magee of Ocean View, Lillian Tingle of Gumboro, June Hickman of Millsboro, and Shirley West of Selbyville; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call at 1 p.m.
Pastor Dennis Milner of Bethel Tabernacle will officiate the service.
Interment in Dagsboro Redmens Memorial Cemetery, Dagsboro.

09/05/08

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Elwood H. Kulp, retired brick mason
Elwood H. Kulp, 76, of Millsboro, formerly of Royersford, Pa., passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes.
Mr. Kulp was born Feb. 16, 1932, the son of the late Harvey and Amelia Kulp. Elwood was a veteran of Korea serving in the U.S. Army. He was a retired brick mason working for the Bricklayer Local 54 in Pennsylvania.
He was a master mason of Royersford Masonic Lodge #585, a lifetime member of American Legion Post 28 in Oak Orchard and an avid Indian River Volunteer Fire Co. supporter.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Elaine Sealer Kulp; three daughters, Susanna L. Selfinger, Carol A. Moulden and Wendy M. Wickward; a sister-in-law, Marge Kulp; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 8, at the Long Neck Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 32013 Long Neck Road, where friends and family may call from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 7. Interment will be held at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions in Elwood’s name to the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company, Station 80, 32628 Oak Orchard Road, Millsboro DE 19966.

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Robert ‘Bob’ Benko, regional planner
Robert “Bob” G. Benko, 66, of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Lemoyne, Pa., passed away Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes.
He was born Aug. 28, 1942, in Harrisburg, Pa., son of the late Lloyd H. and Ethel Papp Benko.
Mr. Benko received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Franklin and Marshall College and a master’s in regional planning from Pennsylvania State University. He had a long and rewarding career working for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the areas of policy and planning, community and economic development, and community affairs, and served for nearly three years as executive director of the Philadelphia Shipyard Development Corporation. He also worked as an adjunct professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Pennsylvania State University.
Bob was recognized for his many contributions in his field of expertise by the Council of Governors’ Policy Advisors with the Jack Brezius Memorial Rough Rider Award for Excellence in Public Policy, and the Soil Conservation Society of America presented him with a National Honor Award. In his retirement years, he especially enjoyed his time sailing, carving classic decoys and miniature waterfowl and indulging his dog, Dewey.
Bob was a member of St. Edmond’s Catholic Church, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, the Lewes Historical Society, the Rehoboth Art League and Delaware by Hand. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather who will be missed by all those who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Connie Hench Benko; two sons, Christopher James Benko and his wife Mary of Tampa, Fla,. and Matthew Robert Benko and his wife Lilli of Richmond, Va.; five grandchildren, Emily, Brian and Shane of Tampa and Winfield and Thaddeus of Richmond.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 5, at St. Edmond’s Catholic Church, King Charles Avenue and Laurel Street, Rehoboth Beach; Fr. Raymond Forrester will be the celebrant. Friends may call at the church at 10:30 a.m., Friday. Interment will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Pilottown Road, Lewes. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Edmond’s Catholic Church Building Fund (“Enhance St. Edmond’s”), King Charles Ave. & Laurel St., PO Box 646, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.

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Bertie E. Williamson, assistant bookkeeper
Bertie E. Williamson, 88, of Millsboro, passed away Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. She was born March 24, 1920, in Bishopville, Md., to the late Sidney L. Hudson and Lula Carey Hudson.
Mrs. Williamson was the assistant bookkeeper for the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce in Wilmington for 20 years.
She was a member of the Bethel Tabernacle Church of God, Clarksville, and the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 7422 in Millsboro.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Irvin R. Williamson in 1988; and her daughter, Margaret Taylor in 2002.
Mrs. Williamson is survived by her son-in-law, William Taylor of Delaware City.
Services will be graveside at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Bishopville Cemetery, Bishopville.
Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.

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Richard C. Knapp Sr., Vietnam veteran
Richard C. Knapp Sr., 61, of Houston, died Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital. Richard was born in Philadelphia, son of the late Harold E. and Elizabeth Knapp of Easton, Pa. Richard was a Vietnam veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force and retiring with the rank of staff sergeant in 1986, after 20 years’ service. After his retirement from the military, Richard worked with Masten Lumber Yard in Milford. He was a life member of the VFW Post 6483 in Milford. Richard is survived by his wife of 35 years, Catherine Neith Knapp; two sons, Richard Knapp Jr. of Dagsboro and Jeffrey Knapp of Millsboro; a brother, Harold A. of Easton, Pa.; and two sisters, Mary Urser of Racine, Wis., and Alberta Hendricks, also of Easton. A memorial service will be 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 5, in the chapel of Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Patriots Way, Millsboro. Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the VFW Post 6483, Richard C. Knapp Sr. burial expense, c/o Richard Knapp Jr., 177 Veterans Circle, Milford, DE 19963. Arrangements handled by Berry-Short Funeral Home, Milford.

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Margaret Dunning, legal researcher
Margaret “Peggy” Dunning, 82, of Lewes and Georgetown, died Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, at Cadbury at Lewes.
Miss Dunning was born in Shanghai, China, on May 9, 1926. She was the daughter of Edward H. Dunning Sr., a Shanghai businessman who was a native of Lewes, and his wife, Chiyoko Kaneko “Clara” Dunning from Susaka, Japan.
The family lived in Shanghai, where Miss Dunning attended the American School. When Miss Dunning and her brother were quite young, both of their parents died and Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Reed of Shanghai became guardians of the children. While her brother remained in Shanghai, Miss Dunning was enrolled in the Canadian Academy in Kobe, Japan, and the children spent summers together in Unzen, Japan. In 1941, just before the outbreak of World War II, Miss Dunning, then age 15, relocated to the United States. Her father’s cousin, Robert G. Houston of Georgetown, a former Delaware congressman, was instrumental in arranging for Miss Dunning and her brother to enter the country. The children sailed for the United States on two of the last passenger ships to cross the Pacific prior to the war.
Once in the United States, Miss Dunning and her brother were enrolled in boarding schools and spent their school vacations with members of the Houston and Robinson families in Georgetown. Miss Dunning graduated from Havergal College in Toronto, Canada, where she was an outstanding field hockey player, and Goldey Beacom College in Wilmington.
After completing her schooling Miss Dunning settled in Georgetown where for many years she was a legal researcher and title searcher, first in the law office of Houston Wilson and then for 30 years with the firm of Maull and Maull. She was known for her meticulous research and extensive knowledge about property matters in Sussex County. She was particularly interested in the earliest records pertaining to land and families in Sussex County. When she retired, an article about her in The News Journal newspaper referred to her as the Sussex County “delver of deeds.” In the 1970s she moved to Lewes. She was an ardent Democrat and was intensely interested in politics at both the state and national levels. She also was involved in efforts to promote the humane treatment of animals.
Miss Dunning was predeceased by her brother, Edward H. Dunning Jr. She is survived by her niece, Catherine Dunning Catanach and her family of Sinking Spring, Pa.; and her sister- in-law, Bianca Dunning of Topton, Pa. She is also survived by her cousins, Thomas P. Robinson of Rehoboth Beach and Robert H. Robinson of Georgetown and their families.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5, Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may call beginning at 1 p.m. Interment will be follow at the Lewes Presbyterian Churchyard. The Rev. Hilary Livingston will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Lewes Historical Society, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes, DE 19958; or the Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary of Sussex County, PO Box 430, Nassau, DE 19969.

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Warren R. Prophet, handyman
Warren Robert Prophet Jr., 63, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, from heart problems. He was born May 3, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pa., son of the late Warren Robert Prophet Sr. and Erma May Euler Prophet.
Mr. Prophet had most recently worked as a handyman in the Rehoboth Beach area after moving here in 2003 from Washington, D.C. He enjoyed entertaining friends in his home and enjoyed baking, cooking, gardening and working with flowers as well as collecting antiques.
He is survived by his son, Warren Robert “Robbie” Prophet III of Gaithersburg, Md.; his daughter, Megan Prophet of Baltimore, Md.; and his sister, Beverly Prophet of Ashton, Md.
A memorial service is to be scheduled; contact Linda Allan at 703-627-7764 to be notified of final plans.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Sussex County AIDS Council, P.O. Box 712, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Enterprises Inc., Lewes.

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William J. Lawson Sr., mechanical engineer
William J. Lawson Sr., 83, of Milton, passed away Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center.
William was born in Lincoln, son of the late Lester Paul and Sarah Emma Lofland Lawson.
He was a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur. William developed and designed many machines to aid in the production of numerous industry products. He always loved a designing and building challenge and had received many patents for those designs.
He was instrumental in numerous businesses including Plasto Products and Lawson Brothers Machine Design and Construction. He most recently, along with his son Gary, owned and operated National Screen from 1985 until his recent retirement. Mr. Lawson was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He served during World War II in the Philippines and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1945.
William was a founding member of the Broadkill VFW Post 6984 in Milton.
In addition to his parents, William is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Wilkerson Lawson; a sister, Ella Donovan; and a brother, Lester “Dickie” Lawson.
He is survived by six children, Gary Lawson and wife Lydia of Georgetown, Bill Lawson and wife Pat of Milton, Bob Lawson and wife Clara of Greenwood, Rick Lawson and wife Betty of Arkansas, Carol Lazartic and husband Steve of Newark, and Linda Shufelt of Milton; 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and a sister, Hattie McBroom of Baltimore, Md.
A funeral service was held in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, Milton, with burial in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Milton.

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Cecil Rogers, charter club member
Cecil Bethards Rogers, 90, of Lewes, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes due to complications from bypass surgery. He was born Aug. 8, 1918, in Wilmington, son of the late Cecil D. and Lilla V. Bethards Rogers.
Mr. Rogers was a lifelong resident of Delaware. He moved to Lewes 26 years ago. He loved sailing and radio-controlled airplanes and sailboats. He was a member of the Lewes Remote Airplane Club and a charter member of the Angola By The Bay Men’s Club.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Vera Walekr Rogers; a son, William C. Rogers and his wife Cynthia of Newark; four grandchildren, twins Collin and Justin, Brandi and Thomas; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Harriet R. Durgin of Rising Sun, Md.
Graveside services at Hockessin Friends Cemetery were private. Arrangements were handled by Parsell Funeral Enterprises Inc., Lewes. The family suggests contributions be made to Beebe Medical Center, Cardiac Care Unit, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.

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Roger F. Keister, construction manager
Roger Franklin Keister, 61, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. He was born Nov. 22, 1946, in Union County, Pa., to the late Russell Franklin and Alma Lucinda Wright Keister.
Mr. Keister served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. After leaving the service, he worked construction for more than 40 years and for the last seven years as a project manager for Ken Owens Project Management Company of Rehoboth Beach. In his spare time he enjoyed woodworking and fishing; he was an avid baseball fan who loved the Orioles.
Mr. Keister is survived by his daughter, Rusty Demchack of Mount Union, Pa.; two sons, Edward Charles Keister of Lafayette, Ind., and Roger Boop of West Decatur, Pa.; three sisters, Janet Wiand of Middletown, Pa., Sue Wierrick of Middleburg, Pa., and Pauline Renninger of Mifflinburg, Pa.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 8, at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes. Entombment will be at 1 p.m. at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro. The family suggest contributions be made to American Legion Post No. 5, 300 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.

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