02/24/09

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Glennie Lee Messick, Milton homemaker
Glennie Lee Williamson Messick, 87, of Milton, died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes.
She was born in Whiteville, N.C., the daughter of the late Daniel and Addie Williamson. She attended Crossroads Community Church. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening, sewing, embroidering and quilting. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur H. Messick; and a sister, Lula Batten.
She is survived by her son, James Stevens Messick of Milton; a sister, Glennie Bee Willey of Georgetown; and one grandson, James Michael Messick and his fiancé Maura Dutton. Services will be held at noon, Thursday, Feb. 26, at Crossroads Community Church, 20684 State Forest Road, Georgetown, where friends may call after 11 a.m. Arrangements handled by Short Funeral Services, Milton.

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Palmer E. Prettyman, Milton retiree
Palmer Eggert Prettyman, 73, passed away at his home in Milton Friday, Feb. 20, 2009.
He was born in Morristown, N.J., March 31, 1935, to Harold Sr. and Evelyn (Kloeblen) Prettyman.
He was married to Marjorie “Peggy” Jane Mihalik Aug. 11, 1957. He is survived by his five children, Kevin, Pam, Chris, Scott and Dale; his 15 grandchildren, Kelly, Mitchell, Brandon, Ashley, Joshua, Kim, Kenneth, Taeten, Lance, Aubrey, Tiffany, Cassandra, Chelsea, Corrine and Samantha; and his brother, Harold Jr. Palmer graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He and Peggy raised their family in Rockaway, N.J., and later, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. They retired in Milton in 1991. To Palmer, the most significant part of his life was his family.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24, and again from 9 to 10 a.m., Wednesday. Interment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Pilottown Road, Lewes.

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Wilbur G. Steiman, distiller retiree
Wilbur G. Steiman, 87, of Wilmington and formerly of Boston, Mass., passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford. Mr. Steiman was the son of the late Harry and Rose Steiman of Boston. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-45 and then worked for 40 years at the former Old Boston Distillers in Boston. He retired to Wilmington in 1983.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Natalie “Nettie” Steiman; two sisters, Florence Goldings and Dorothy Woloshin; and one brother, George Steiman. He is survived by his son, Richard M. Steiman and his wife Nan of Lewes; one grandson, Marc A. Steiman and his wife Barbara of Lewes; and one great-grandson, Nathaniel G. Steiman of Lewes. A memorial service will be held at noon, Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Schoenberg Memorial Chapel, 519 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, with burial in Boston. Donations may be made to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

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Minnie C. Barranco, retired secretary
Minnie C. Barranco, 84, of Wilmington, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at her home surrounded by her family. Mrs. Barranco was the daughter of the late Dominick and Lucy Guida and a graduate of P.S. DuPont High School. Minnie retired in 1984 after more than 33 years as a secretary for the Veterans Hospital in Elsmere. She was a member of St. Matthews Church and a former member of the BVM Sodality. Minnie was a very generous person who donated to many worthy causes, but her greatest joy was her family.. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers, Tony and Francis Guida and her sister, Angela Succarotte. Minnie will be dearly missed by her husband of 61 years, Joseph L. Barranco; her daughter, Lucy M. O’Donnell of Wilmington; her son, Joseph M. Barranco of Rehoboth; her grandchildren, Jeffrey, Megan and Andrew and her great-granddaughters, Carmela and Rylee. She also leaves her former son-in-law, Jim O’Donnell and former daughter-in-law, Cherry Barranco and numerous nieces, nephews and friends who frequently visited Minnie in the last few weeks.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon, Wednesday, Feb. 25, at St. Matthews Church, 901 E. Newport Pike, Woodcrest. Friends may call at the Mealey Funeral Home, Limestone and Milltown roads from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday. Burial will be in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to either the Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Road, Newark, DE 19713; or to Delaware Adolescent Program Inc., 2900 N. VanBuren St., Wilmington, DE 19802.

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Henry ‘Hank’ Huff, enjoyed scouting
Henry J. “Hank” Huff, 43, of Milton, a hero with a heart of gold, passed away suddenly Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Born April 29, 1965, Hank was the youngest of five children born to Patricia Marvel Huff Stenger and the late Richard M. Huff Sr. Hank was married to Michelle Kandravi in August 1988, and they were blessed with two sons, Joshua Henry, 18, and Zachary John, 15.
Hank was a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was a four-wheeler and train enthusiast and was well known in the area for his memorable fireworks displays throughout the years. Hank especially loved the Boy Scouts organization and had been active in both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for the past 20 years. He enjoyed the memories made with his sons whether it be camping, whitewater rafting or other scouts activities that they were involved in. He had served as assistant scoutmaster of Troop 198 in Milton.
Hank was a member of Goshen U.M. Church in Milton and was very involved with the preservation efforts at Sand Hill Church in Georgetown.
In addition to his wife and children, Hank is survived by his mother, Patricia Huff Stenger; two brothers, Richard M. “Rick” Huff Jr. (Diane) and Douglas M. Huff (Susan); two sisters, Jerilyn P. Huff and Jocelyn Huff Godwin (Hal); father-in-law and mother-in-law: William Kandravi Sr., (Sharon); sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Tammy Abele (Andy); brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Billy Kandravi Jr., (Shannon); several nieces, nephews and cousins and his beloved dogs, Toby and Shadow.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 609 E. Market St., Georgetown where friends may call Friday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in Sand Hill Cemetery, Georgetown.
Flowers are accepted, or contributions in memory of Hank can be made to Sand Hill Church Preservation, c/o Grace U.M. Church, 7 S. King St., Georgetown, DE 19947.
A fund has been established to benefit the surviving children. Make checks payable to the Henry J. Huff Memorial Fund and send them to Wilmington Trust, PO Box 17, Lewes, DE 19958.

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Dorothy Freeman Short, homemaker
Dorothy Freeman Short, 83, of Georgetown, died at home Friday, Feb. 20, 2009.
Mrs. Short was born in Townsend, daughter of the late Frank Freeman and Helen Fraizer Freeman. She was a homemaker and a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Georgetown where she loved teaching Sunday school and helping with Bible school. Her family was her first love; she was a devoted wife and mother. She loved flowers and took care of many people in the community.
She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Howard Short; four children, Linda Short of Bear, Howard Short of Houston, Texas, Joanna Schlabaugh of Virginia Beach, Va., and Amy Short of Millsboro; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 609 E. Market St., Georgetown, where friends may call one hour prior. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Georgetown.
Flowers will be accepted or send contributions to Compassionate Care Hospice, 31038 Country Garden Blvd., Suite D2, Dagsboro, DE 19939.

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Anne M. Palomba, church volunteer
Anne M. Palomba, 95, of Milford, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, at Milford Memorial Hospital, Bayhealth Medical Center.
Mrs. Palomba was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 30, 1913, and moved to South River, N.J. the following year. She attended grade school and graduated in 1927. She attended South River High School and graduated in 1931 with highest academic honors. In 1936, she married her high school sweetheart Enrico T. Palomba and they lived in South River, N.J. During World War II, she was active as a volunteer in the Red Cross and Civil Defense programs. She and her husband were leaders in the planning and construction of the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church in the community. She continued her church work for many years. In 1979, they retired and moved to Milford, where she was an active volunteer at the Milford Memorial Hospital, the Milford Century Club, the Milford Garden Club and the local chapter of the AARP.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband Enrico T. Palomba in 2003. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and Frank Draper of Milford; two granddaughters, Laura Draper Carter and her husband Frank S. Carter III of Lewes, and Margaret Draper McDaniel and her husband Mark of Milford; three great-grandsons, J.E.D. Bell, S.A.S. Bell, and Frank S. Carter IV; and one great-granddaughter, Anne Carter.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at noon, Saturday, Feb. 28, at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Seabury Avenue and School Place, Milford. Burial was private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the St. John’s Building Fund, 506 Seabury Ave., Milford, DE 19963.

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Mae E. Ritter Dorman, worked family farm
Mae E. Ritter Dorman, 101, of Lewes, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, at her residence. Mrs. Dorman was born Feb. 9, 1908, in Milford, the youngest of seven and the only daughter of the late Frederick and Sarah Frances Litz Ritter.
Mrs. Dorman married her late husband, Albert Dorman (1993), in 1925 at the youthful age of 17 and resided in Lewes. During the Depression years, they moved to Bridgeton, N.J., where her husband found work to support their growing family and she tended a huge garden for feeding the family. She sewed all their clothing and always counted her blessings. In 1941, the family returned to Lewes as construction of Fort Miles was under way. Mrs. Dorman did her part to support the family by operating a boarding house for eight to 10 men working at Fort Miles, all the while raising her family that grew to seven children. As a result of the untiring efforts of Mrs. Dorman, the family was able to purchase a large farm in 1942 where they lived until 1985. Mrs. Dorman handled all the farm work, i.e., milking cows, plowing, planting and harvesting while Mr. Dorman worked on union projects, oftentimes away from home for extended periods. When the farm was sold, Mrs. Dorman and her husband moved to a residential community where they had a yard with a garden that was the envy of all. Mrs. Dorman was a devoted wife, loving mother, an adored mother-in-law, worshiped Grand Mom, Great Grandmom, Great-Great Grandmom and Aunt Mae to all the Ritter children. She will be sorely missed by her large family, her neighbors and many friends.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Ernest Dorman and her daughter, Evelyn Brumbaugh, both in 2007; a granddaughter, Sue Ellen Dorman Wright in 2007; and a grandson, Joshua Allyn Thomas in 1985; and her six brothers, Herbert, Roy, Lynn, William, Earl and Howard Ritter.
She is survived by her four daughters: Elizabeth Thomas of Seaford, Joan Moore (Harry) of Lewes, Sarah Rickards (William) of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Susan Stone of Rehoboth Beach; and her son Al Dorman (Sharon) of Milton; 12 grandchildren, Edwin Thomas (Karen) of Gaithersburg, Md., Neil Thomas (Susan) of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., Frank D. Brumbaugh and Boyd Brumbaugh, both of Philipsburg, Pa., Brent Moore (Nancy) and Mark Moore (Barbara) of Lewes, Nancy Novak (Leon) of Millsboro, Jayne Leitzel (Wayne) of York, Pa., Terry Moscaritolo (Lou) of New Hartford, Conn., Tammy Rickards of Millsboro, Sarah Seigfried (Stan) of Berlin, Md., and Amanda Welch of Milton; 19 great-grandchildren: Douglas, Grant & Jacob Thomas, Katherine Gelineau (Matt), Mark Moore Jr. (Sara), Jordan and Jesse Moore, Lauri Moore Vent (Eric), William & Brendan Murphy, Jesse Matson, Nicki and Ryan Soucy, Skylar Seigfried, Josh and Alicia Berman, Zachary and Victor Novak, and Jeff Uhlendorf; one great-great-grandson, Justin Cruz Vent; daugher-in-law Doris Dorman of Millsboro; and son-in-law Frank J. Brumbaugh of Philipsburg, Pa.. Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 21, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes. Pastor Fred Duncan officiated. Interment was at White’s Chapel Cemetery, Milton.
Please omit flowers. Contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE; or to Bethel United Methodist Church, 129 West 4th St., Lewes, DE 19958.

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Margaret L. Mott, retired postal clerk
Margaret L. McNamara Mott, 85, of Rehoboth Beach, died Thursday Feb. 19, 2009, at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mt. Airy, Md.
She was born Sept. 12, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minn., the daughter of the late George Loyal McNamara and the late Florence McLeod McNamara. She was the wife of the late Walter B. Mott.
She was the mother of Thomas Mott of Pennsylvania, Barbara Ford of New York, Kathi Wzientek of Maryland, Gary Mott of Maryland and Christine Frick of Maryland; sister of Robert McNamara of Wisconsin; and also survived by eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was a retired clerk for the U.S. Post Office. She served in the Navy WAVES during World War II.
She grew up in Huron, S.D. and lived in Long Island, N.Y. for many years before moving to Rehoboth. She loved casinos and slots, reading, knitting and the beach.
She made many friends over the years and she enjoyed being with family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 10:45 a.m., Thursday Feb. 26, at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, 11501 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, Md.
Arrangements made by Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory, Winfield, Md.

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John C. McMillan, enjoyed surfing
John Cameron McMillan, 56, of Rehoboth Beach died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, at Delaware Hospice Center in Milford of pancreatic cancer.
He is survived by his beloved sister Jane of Annapolis, Md., another sister of Atlanta, Ga.; and two brothers who reside in central Maryland.
John's biggest joy in life was to surf and spend time at the "Naval Jetty" at Cape Henlopen State Park with his beloved fellow surfers and friends which are too numerous to mention.
John departed this earthly realm much too early, but we are comforted to know that John lived life to the fullest and he spread love, hope and light to everyone he encountered.
A celebration of John's life and a "paddle out" will take place on the beach at the "Naval Jetty" at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes sometime in late May.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Enterprises Inc., Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford DE 19963.