Anna Beebe Moore celebrates 90th birthday
Anna Beebe Moore recently celebrated her 90th birthday with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was born in Lewes and lived on the corner of Beebe Avenue and Savannah Road. Her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Richard C. Beebe, built a house across Savannah Road next to her grandparents’ home, which was next to Beebe Hospital. The house is now The Beebe Foundation office on Savannah Road and Sussex Drive.
Dr. Richard Beebe was a cofounder of Beebe Hospital. The family spent part of the summer months in Rehoboth Beach, where her father would have office hours in the Beebe Clinic on Rehoboth Avenue.
Anna went to school in Lewes from the first grade until she went to The Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, Pa., and graduated with a degree in fashion design. She returned to Lewes and married R. Edward “Eddie” Moore Jr. He succeeded his father in the automobile business known as Moore Chevrolet Sales, which was purchased from the Walsh family in 1928.
Anna has been active in the garden club as well as the Beebe Hospital Auxiliary and is a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church in Lewes. She is still an avid bridge player and plays several times a week in Georgetown, Seaford and Rehoboth Beach. She is a lifetime member of the Lewes Yacht Club, which her parents belonged to, and her husband was a past president.
Her greatest lifelong passion has been travel. She took the Concorde from Newark airport to London and returned on the Queen Elizabeth II. She has traveled to Alaska, California, Florida, New Zealand, Australia, Amsterdam and most recently the Amazon.
She has always had a passion for art, working with watercolors, oils, ink sketches and most recently with porcelain painting. One of her favorite events in the summer is the Lewes Historical Society Craft Show in July. She looks forward to meeting old and new friends as she displays her plates, pictures and mugs, as well as various other items. Her favorite winter venue is The Children’s Beach House Art Show and Sale, which occurs during the Lewes Historical Society House Tour. She always has her signature lighthouse plates as well as other items including hand-painted Christmas ornaments.
Her oldest son Ray is a graduate of Lewes High School and the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He has most recently been working as a civilian for the Navy on a new aircraft carrier. He presently lives in Fairfax, Va., with his wife Stephanie, stepdaughter Estie and step-granddaughter Nayema. His daughter Kasey, who is a second lieutenant in the Navy, lives in California with her husband Brian Richie and two children, Aengus and Aoife.
Pene Gilmore, her eldest daughter, resides in Cary, N.C., with her husband Algie Gilmore. She is very active with her local church. They are both retired. Their son Michael Gilmore lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he is a partner in an architectural firm, Weddle and Gilmore. He lives with his wife Cherie, sons Chris and Joey, and daughter Susie.
Her daughter Karyn lives in North Carolina and is a project manager. She lives with her daughter Emily and her sons Erritt and Josh.
Her youngest daughter, Jennifer, lives in North Carolina with her husband Mark Froning and her three boys, Jacob, Evan and Mason. Jen is a homemaker and is very active with the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She is presently seeking sponsors for her team, Team Endure. To help, register at main.nationalmssociety.org. She is one of the top fundraisers and was featured in a televised program for people who suffer from multiple sclerosis.
Her daughter Edilu lives in Milton with her husband Peter Nehrbas. She is a retired art teacher at Rehoboth Elementary School. She is also a prolific artist working with pen and ink, watercolor and her greatest passion, jewelry design. Her works can be viewed and purchased at many of the local art venues. Her eldest daughter Elyse lives in Dover with her husband Mike Starr. Mike works at Bank of America and Elyse is an English teacher at Polytech High School. They have two sons, Shawn and Justin, and a daughter, Natalie, born on her great-grandmother’s birthday this year.
Edilu’s other daughter Heather lives in Milford with her husband Will Hickman. The have two children, Wilz and Layla. Heather works at The Lotus Spa in Rehoboth Beach and Will works in his family business Hickman’s Meat Market.
Alex, the youngest son, lives in Rehoboth Beach with his partner Tony Beto.
Alex graduated from The Lawrence Academy and has a bachelor’s degree from Northwood University. Alex is an independent insurance agent. Tony Beto is the owner of Tony Beto Design Studio, which designs residential and commercial properties. Alex’s son Chase is a graduate of Worchester Preparatory School in Berlin, Md., and is presently a first-year student at the University of Delaware. His major is in materials engineering.
