Mary Ann Timmons, retired teacher
Mary Ann Timmons, 82, of Milford passed away Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, at Milford Center.
She was born in Milford July 18, 1937, the daughter of the late Horace T. and Evelyn Gross Culver.
She moved to Lewes in 1943, where she attended the Lewes School for 12 years, graduating in 1955. She graduated from the University of Delaware in June 1959.
She began her teaching career at Georgetown Elementary School, where she taught first grade from Sept. 1959 to June 1968, then she began teaching at Lake Forest East Elementary and remained teaching first grade there until her retirement in June 1989.
After her retirement, she frequently worked at Racing’s Total Image, a NASCAR collectibles shop owned by a former student and his family at their Millsboro, Rehoboth and Seaford locations. She continued this until the business closed in 2003.
She began attending auto races at the age of 12. The NASCAR division became her passion after retiring. She loved being at the NASCAR shop talking racing with the customers.
She had a close relationship with the Wendell Scott family of Danville, Va. Wendell was the first African-American to win a NASCAR race. She often remarked that her “claim to fame” was that she once was driven around Danville by Wendell and shown the important spots of his life.
For many years she baked fresh apple cakes for her friend Ted Musgrave and his race team members, and enjoyed delivering them to the various NASCAR tracks.
Her hobbies included collecting music boxes, items with cardinals, needlepointing and reading Civil War nonfiction. Her collection of “Gone With The Wind” items was extensive; as well as her NASCAR and dirt track memorabilia.
She decorated her front porch for every holiday, a habit carried from years of classroom decorating.
She enjoyed communicating through letter writing and sending cards for all occasions to her friends. It troubled her that the art of letter writing was disappearing.
She was a life member of the National Education Association, Delaware State Education Association, Lake Forest Education Association, Eastern Museum of Motor Racing and Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Preston H. “Jimmie” Timmons , whom she married Aug. 12, 1967.
She is survived by many friends throughout the country, especially North Carolina, as well as several former students with whom she kept in touch throughout her life; and close friends, Norman and Gladys Reynolds, Neal Glanden and childhood friend, Donald McIlvain Sr.
No services will be held at her request. Burial will be private beside her husband at the Milford Community Cemetery, Milford.
Her final words: Support auto racing on Delmarva; for it has brought me much pleasure and many loyal friends during my lifetime.
Arrangements handled by Berry-Short Funeral Home, Milford.
