01/15/10

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Frank C. Downes, former market owner
Frank Clayton Downes, 80 of Lewes, passed away Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at Delaware Hospice Center in Milford.

Born Sunday, July 14, 1929, in Bridgeville, he was the son of the late Carlton and Ida (Beebe) Downes and a resident of Sussex County all of his life.

“Clayton” as he was commonly called, loved to watch and play all sports. During his school days, he played basketball, football and baseball for Bridgeville High School. In the early 50s, he played baseball and basketball for the towns of Harrington, Hickman and Lewes. He also boxed lightweight during that same time. From 1951 until 1953, he served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the United States and Germany. Clayton owned and operated Rickards and Ramsey Market in Lewes for 12 years and was a meat cutter locally in Sussex County. He enjoyed playing and telling jokes and met with his friends each morning at Arby’s in Lewes for coffee and exchanging stories. He also enjoyed NASCAR, but most of all, Clayton enjoyed spending time with his family.

Clayton is survived by his wife of 57 years, Loretta (Laughery) Downes; two daughters, Kim Douglas and her husband Tim of Bear, and Julie Yakimowicz and her husband Rick of Lewes; two grandchildren, Kacie Rae and Ricky Yakimowicz of Lewes; and one stepgrandson, Jordan M. Douglas of Pennsylvania.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 15, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes. Memorial contributions may be sent to Tunnell Cancer Center, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958, Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963 or White’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Route 1, Overbrook, Milton, DE 19968.

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Loretta I. Williams, loving matriarch
Loretta I. Williams, 72, of Lewes, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family Monday, Jan. 11, 2010. Mrs. Williams was born March 8, 1937, in Brooklyn, N.Y., daughter of the late Charles McLaughlin and Josephine (Scallon) McLaughlin.

Mrs. Williams moved from New Canaan, Conn. to Lewes nearly 20 years ago with her husband Jack. Loretta loved the beach and was a member of the Lewes Yacht Club as well as the YMCA. Her passions included breeding Miniature Schnauzers, grooming dogs and she also enjoyed shopping, boating and gardening. Mrs. Williams was always the matriarch of her family; everyone looked to her for support. She loved cheering on her grandchildren at swim meets and participating in numerous events for breast cancer awareness.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Williams was preceded in death by her sister, Claire McLaughlin. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, John F. Williams; three sons: John Williams and wife Marti of Hockessin, Mark Williams and wife Jane of Hockessin, and Jim Williams and wife Marian of Silver Spring, Md.; brother, Bill McLaughlin of Maine; sister, Joan Cary of Arizona; seven grandchildren: James, Katie, Jack, Jamie, Michael, Matt, and Ian; and her two Miniature Schnauzers: Molly and Maggie. The family would like to extend a special note of thanks to Marion Williams and Liz Macchio for their loving care and support in Mom, especially during her final days.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, at St. Jude The Apostle Church, Route 1 north of Five Points, Lewes. Internment will be private. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins – Lodge Chapel, Lewes. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., 2600 Network Boulevard, Suite 300, Frisco, TX 75034.

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Faith Jenkins Hidell, devout Quaker
Faith Jenkins Hidell, 94, of Newtown Square, Pa., died peacefully at her beloved home Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, Misty Meadow, surrounded by her sons. She was married at Swarthmore Friends Meeting, Swarthmore, Pa. in 1939 to Henry Robinson Hidell Jr. who preceded her in death.
Faith was born in Wyoming, the daughter of the late Willis Charles and Katharine Brock Jenkins. Faith graduated from George School in Newtown, Pa., Illman School of the University of Pennsylvania, and attended graduate school at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. Faith taught at Westtown Friends School from 1935 until 1939.

Faith was very active in sports as a young woman, held numerous track and field records that she won at Caesar Rodney High School in Wyoming, and at George School, Newtown, Bucks County, Pa. She held more than eight track records for women awarded from the state of Delaware. Faith was particularly suited to raising five sons at Misty Meadow because of her sports activities.
Faith was a birthright Friend (Quaker), a member of Camden Friends Meeting. During her youth and for nearly 60 years was an active member of Willistown Friends Meeting in Newtown Square, Pa., serving as clerk of the meeting as well as giving her time to many committees. She co-edited the cookbook “Quaker Flavors” for the meeting’s bicentennial. The proceeds raised tens of thousands of dollars to feed the hungry through the American Friends Service Committee. She served in various capacities during Chester County days and opened her historic home on three occasions. She was active in the American Cancer Society and the Colonial Plantation at Ridley Creek State Park.

Through her father, Faith was a direct descent of Warner Mifflin. Mifflin was born and lived his youth at Eyre Hall on the Virginia Eastern Shore and came to Delaware as a young man. Mifflin has been documented as the first to have manumitted his own slaves in 1744 and 1745. Mifflin went on to become one of America’s foremost abolitionist of the 18th century. In Feb. 2004, Faith, accompanied by Tim Hidell and family, represented the descendents of Warner Mifflin during the placement of the historical marker by the state of Delaware recognizing his contributions to this cause. She was a member of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania chapter, The Society of St. George’s Chapel and the Descendants of the Order of the Garter, Curfew Tower, Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, as well as the Welcome Society of Pennsylvania.

Faith is survived by her five sons, Henry Robinson Hidell III of Hingham, Mass., Willis Jenkins Hidell of Cape Porpoise, Me., Thomas Mifflin Hidell of Stone Mountain, Ga., John Whaley Hidell of Indian Land, S.C. and Timothy Brock Hidell, daughter-in-law Christine Murowany Hidell and their sons Timothy Brock Hidell Jr. and his wife Ashlee Reed Hidell of Rehoboth Beach, Anthony Murowany Hidell, Nicholas Gylymay Hidell, and H. Arthur Robinson Hidell of Wilmington and 10 additional grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Beatrice Hrab now of Columbia, Md., formerly of Wilmington, and her son Walter Hrab.
Faith was devoted to her family, her Quaker community and her friends. She mentored many young people providing Quakerly guidance in childraising, the meaning and importance of family, friendship and faith. She followed William Penn’s quotation: “Let us now see what love can do.” Her own favorite phrase was “Whatever you do, do it with love.”
A memorial service was held Jan. 9, at Willistown Friends Meeting, Newtown Square. Immediately following the service, friends were invited to join the family in the Meeting House social room for a luncheon.
In lieu of flowers send donations to the Hidell Education Trust in care of The Willistown Friend’s Meeting, 7069 Goshen Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073 or to a charity of your choice. There will be a memorial service in the spring of 2010, which will be announced by the family for those who were unable to attend Saturday’s service.

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James E. Layton, construction worker
James Edward Layton, 50, of Seaford, passed away Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford.
James was the son of Jacob and Florence Jones Layton. He was in the construction industry. He enjoyed setting up mobile homes, TV, fishing, and being with his wife. He is predeceased by his father, Jacob Layton; and his sister, Jean Niblett. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Carol Layton; brothers, Denny Layton of Georgetown, George Layton and wife Barbara, of Bridgeville, Ronnie Layton and wife Wanda of Laurel, and Francis Layton of Greenwood; and a sister, Linda Bailey and husband Rick of Laurel. He is also survived by his favorite nephew, Ronnie, and several other nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. He will be missed by all including his canine friend “Sandy.”
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, at Watson Funeral Home 211 South Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call from from 10 to 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Gift of Life, 401 North 3rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19123.

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Wanda A. Tomlinson, retired bus driver
Wanda A. Tomlinson, 68, of Georgetown, formerly of Cape May, N.J,. passed away Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. Born Aug. 18, 1941, in Ludlow, Vt., she was the daughter of the late Maurice and Dorothy (Nashville) Metivier.
Wanda was the first female bus driver for the New Jersey Transit Authority in the South Jersey area and was a member of their 25-year club. She retired in 2000. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, a member of their choir and glee club and Pocahontas Lodge of Delaware. She traveled the country camping in 45 states and enjoyed gardening and reading. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Robert E. Tomlinson of Georgetown; one son, Robert E. Tomlinson II and his wife Jacalyn of Millsboro; three daughters, Deborah Tomlinson of N. Cape May, N.J., Barbara Post and her husband Joe of Chalfont, Pa. and Kimberly Tomlinson of Villas, N.J.; six grandchildren, Joey Post, Megan Post, Brian Post, Kristin Tomlinson, Michael Orr, Ashton Tomlinson; and her dogs, Miss Stella and Mr. Fitz. A memorial service will be held at noon, Saturday Jan. 16, at Grace United Methodist Church, King and Market streets, Georgetown, with her pastor, the Rev. Michael McGee officiating. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to noon at the church. A reception will follow the services at the church. The family requests no flowers. Memorial contributions may be sent to Grace United Methodist Church, King and Market Sts., Georgetown, DE 19947 or Tunnell Cancer Center, 424 Savannah Road Lewes, DE 19958. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Inc, Georgetown.

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William F. Owens, retired engineer
William Francis Owens of Philadelphia, Pa., passed away Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009. His wife of 65 years, May, daughter Denise Owens Jackson and grandchildren, Julie, Patrick and Barbara of Lewes will miss him dearly.
He is also survived by daughters Patti Doherty (Brian) and Maryanne Burke (Tom); son, Bill Owens (Patsy); nine additional grandchildren; and four great-granddaughters. His sisters, Dolores and Joan; sister-in-law, Barbara (Micky); grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends attended a Mass of Christian Burial Dec. 30, near Warminster, Pa.

Bill first came to Lewes to assist in the renovation of a 1000-year-old house with his daughter Denise in 1991 and experienced the same joys and frustrations that many Lewes residents feel with these great old houses. He was often mistaken by the neighbors as the carpenter, electrician or painter as he devoted many hours to improve and winterize a house that became a home for his family. After a hard day’s work he looked forward to taking everyone to the state park for an ocean swim even on October days. He took great pleasure in attending most of Julie, Patrick and Barbara’s baseball games at the Lewes Little League field and later at Cape Henlopen High School. Arriving by the Cape May-Lewes Ferry from Ocean City, N.J. became routine each spring through June for a decade.

Bill attended Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia when he met his future wife, May, who attended Little Flower. While serving in the army during World War 11 he and May married Dec. 2, 1944, and later he returned to his studies at Villanova University. As a graduate in electrical engineering with a wife and two daughters he began his long career with Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. in Allentown, Pa., moving on to Harrisburg, Pa. and finally setting down roots in Lancaster, Pa. from 1956 through 1971. The family now called both Philadelphia and Lancaster home. The last decade of Bill’s career was spent once again in Allentown, where he and May enjoyed a wonderful life for 33 years. They have lived at Ann’s Choice in Warminster, Pa. for the last five years, closer to their Philadelphia roots and family. Bill last came to Lewes for Christmas, 2007, and recently enjoyed a family visit from Denise, Julie and Patrick in their home. His collection of Barbara’s wedding pictures was impressive. He not only kept in touch with her regularly by email while she is living in Stockholm but also with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed forwarding worthy news to each and all during the last 10 years.

Bill was laid to rest near his parents and grandmother in Holy Sepulchre in Philadelphia on a beautiful winter day. His loving family gathered around him knowing he was with his Lord in peace. In honor of his devotion to his aunts Sister Mary Francis and Sister Ruth the family requests donations to the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, 1341 Montgomery Ave., Rosemont, PA 19010.