01/01/09

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Donald E. Johnson Sr., Townsend’s retiree
Donald Edward Johnson Sr., 74, of Millsboro, born Aug. 2, 1935, returned home Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. Donald was a husband, father and grandfather and a mentor to many. “Our death is not an ending if we can live in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies only wilted leaves on the tree of life.” (Albert Einstein)

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Ann and William E. (Jimmy) Wright. He was also preceded by two grandchildren, Kevin Wayne Jackson Jr. and Donald Edward Johnson III. Donald is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dorothy Lorraine Johnson; two daughters, Dynele Thompson and husband Tom of Mooresville, N.C., and Regina Moore and husband John of Millsboro; and three sons, Donald Edward Johnson Jr. and companion Linda Wagner of Millsboro, Juan Johnson and wife Mary of Caruthersville, Mo., and Dwayne Wiltbank and wife Valerie of Millsboro; and grandchildren, Letoya Jackson of Delaware, Dashina Cannon of Delaware, Courtney Gamston of Georgia, Kendra Jackson of Delaware, Matthew Thompson of North Carolina, and TeMyra Brown of Delaware; and 11 great-grandchildren along with a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by a brother, Henry Street of Altoona, Pa.; and half-brothers Ronson, Craig, Avanola Showell and half-sisters Lettie Rose Handy and Areala Showell; in addition to sisters- and brothers-in-law.

Donald was employed at Townsend’s Inc. for many years before retiring in 1997. “Yea though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 In accordance with his wishes there was a private graveside service Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Indian Mission Church, Millsboro. The family requests no flowers. The family would like to extend thanks for the prayers. Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro.

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James H. Macia Jr., Doolittle raider
Col. James H. “Herb” Macia Jr., 93, one of nine men remaining from Jimmy Doolittle’s 1942 raid on Tokyo, passed away Sunday, Dec. 20, at Jefferson Medical Center in Philadelphia. He was born April 10, 1916, in Tombstone, Ariz. After graduating from Tombstone High School, he attended the University of Arizona, studying mining engineering. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Herb entered the Army Air Corps in June 1940, completed navigator training and was commissioned in June 1941. His first assignment was the 89th Reconnaissance Squadron at Pendleton, Ore. While there, he married his college sweetheart, Mary Alice Murrell. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the group was reassigned to Columbia, S.C., and became the nucleus for the first raid on Japan led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle. Lt. Macia was the navigator/bombardier on the 14th aircraft with the target of Nagoya. The crew successfully hit the assigned targets and all members escaped to friendly hands after bailing out over China. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission.

Subsequent to the Doolittle Raid, he was assigned to the 320th Bomb Group. They flew B-26 Marauders and deployed to North Africa in December 1942. The group participated in combat operations in the Mediterranean, Sicily, Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, France and Germany. Herb was with the group until April 1945, flying two combat tours (80 missions) and serving in various positions including group executive officer. During those tours, he rose from captain to lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Silver Star, two more Distinguished Flying Crosses and nine Air Medals. At the end of World War II, he was released from the service and returned to Tucson, Ariz. He remained active in the Air Force Reserve. During this time he pursued mining opportunities with his father in southern Arizona, and later worked in the banking and automobile industries in Tucson.

With the outbreak of the Korean War, he was recalled to active duty and assigned to Headquarters USAF, Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany where he served in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence. His next assignment was with the director of intelligence, HQ US Air Force in the Pentagon. During this period, he worked on the exploitation of intelligence from U-2 flights over the Soviet Union. From 1959 until 1961, he was the director of intelligence for the 2nd Air Force (SAC) at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Following that assignment, he was the director of operations for the Air Force Security Service, Kelly AFB, Texas. In 1964, he was assigned to the European Region of the AF Security Service in Frankfurt, Germany, where he was later the commander. He returned to Kelly AFB in 1968 and served as the chief of staff of the Air Force Security Service until his retirement as a colonel in 1973. Herb was the last Doolittle raider to retire from active duty. Herb’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, French Croix de Guerre avec Palme, and Chinese Army, Navy and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade. In 1942 the Kappa Sigma fraternity selected him as co-man-of-the-year with another Doolittle raider.

After retirement from the Air Force, he was the business manager for the Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas until 1990. In 1987, he helped plan and manage Pope John Paul II’s visit to San Antonio. He and his wife, Mary Alice, continued to live in San Antonio until her death in 1999. In 2001 he moved to Arlington, Va., near his son, Tom, and subsequently moved to Rehoboth Beach in 2002 near his other son, Herb III.

He is survived by two sons, Col. James H. Macia III, U.S. Army retired, and his wife Madeleine of Lewes, and LTC Thomas E. Macia, U.S. Army retired, and his wife Mary Michael of Arlington and San Antonio; four grandchildren, Susan Dunlap and her husband Dwayne of Milford, Michael Macia and his wife Melissa of Easton, Pa., Robert Macia and his wife Sarah of Raleigh, N.C., and Peter Macia of New York City. There are also six great-grandchildren.

Burial will be in the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium Inc., Lewes.

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Phoebe G. Sipple, active in community
Phoebe G. Sipple, 84, of Milford, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Christmas morning, Friday, Dec. 25, 2009. She was born Jan. 13, 1925, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the daughter of Winfield Scott Grenoble and Catherine Moore Grenoble.

Phoebe was predeceased by her husband, William V. Sipple III, in 2002. She was a homemaker who attended Christ Episcopal Church, Milford, for over 50 years. Civic involvement included the Milford Garden Club, Milford Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and Abbott’s Mill Nature Center. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Jacque Sipple of Milford; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A private family burial was held Saturday, Dec. 27, at All Saints’ Cemetery, Angola. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 200 Church St., Milford, DE 19963. Arrangements by Lofland Funeral Home.

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Kathy J. Wright, secretary
Kathy J. Wright, 54, of Millsboro, passed away Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, at Beebe Medical Center Lewes.

Kathy was a secretary for a warehouse distributor. She was a USAF veteran. Kathy enjoyed quilting, the outdoors, the beach, camping and the holidays. She really enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, John L. and Elsie E. Potter Bryant; a brother, Buddy; and two sisters, Evelyn and Barbara. She is survived by her husband Thomas Wright; son Christopher J. Stokley and wife Heather of Georgetown; daughters, Kelley L. Tull and husband K.C. of Seaford, Heather L Miazga and husband Joe of Wilmington, and Melissa A. Price of Rising Sun, Md.; and eight grandchildren, Kelsey, Kyle, Kristopher, Samantha, Kylie, Kasey, Jonathan and McKinley; and her beloved canine friend Snickers. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and many friends across the state.

A funeral service was held Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro, with interment at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 31.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963. Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.

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Sarah Jane Vickers, Milton resident
Sarah Jane ‘Sally’ Vickers, 66, of Milton, passed away Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, at Beebe Medical Center of natural causes. She was surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Sarah retired from Norma’s Restaurant of Milton after 14 years of service. She was preceded in death by her father, Leland R. Farris Sr.

Sarah is survived by her husband, Charles “Lumberjack” Vickers of Milton; daughter, Melissa Jane Vickers and grandson, Dustin T. Vickers, both also of Milton; son Gerald David Vickers Jr. of Angola and granddaughter, Tabitha Lynn Vickers of Long Neck; also two grandchildren of Seaford, David and Olivia. She is also survived by her mother, Leonelda Farris of Westernport, Md.; a sister, Carolyn Farris of Louisiana; a brother, Leland R. Farris Jr. of Seaford; and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 2, in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal St., Milton. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

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Mary Seilhamer, loved gardening
Mary Seilhamer, 87, of Fenwick Island, passed away peacefully Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, at Renaissance Healthcare in Millsboro.

Born Wednesday, March 8, 1922, in Huntingdon, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Cyrus and Elda Jackson Geyer. She also was the wife of the late William E. Seilhamer Jr. Mary loved gardening, nature and animals.

Surviving are her daughter, Carol Ann Everhart of Fenwick Island; one granddaughter, Kris Everhart; a grandson, Wyatt Everhart; and three great-grandchildren, Abby, Jack and Donny Shearer-Everhart.

All services and interment will be in Chambersburg, Pa. The family wishes to express its sincere gratitude to Delaware Hospice for the constant and caring assistance over the past two years. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium Inc., Lewes.

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William T. Reed Sr., retired mechanic
William T. Reed Sr., 80, of Broadkill Road, Milton, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at Beebe Medical Center , Lewes.

Mr. Reed was born In Milford, the son of the late Fisher and Myrtle (Benson) Reed. Mr. Reed worked as a mechanic for Floyd Megee in Georgetown for 28 years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and antique cars.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a son, “Tommy” Reed. He is survived by his spouse of 60 years, Norma Lee Workman Reed; four children, Diane Bennett of Milton, Joyce Absher of Milton, Wayne Reed of Lincoln and Darlene Cronic of Milton; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren and his dog Cody.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 3, in the chapel of Short Funeral Services Inc., 416 Federal St., Milton, where friends may call one hour earlier. Interment will be in Milton Odd Fellows Cemetery and Pastor Rick Betts will be officiating.