03/18/08

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Robert L. Larson,
dear grandfather
Robert L. Larson died Sunday, March 16, 2008.
He was the beloved husband of Elaine Larson and the late Rudean Larson (nee Salmon). He is survived by his beloved daughter-in-law, Denise Marie Larson (nee Sherman); loving father of Steven Larson and Sylvia Lemons; dear grandfather of Maren Harris (nee Innis), Eric Robert Larson, Jessica Lynne Larson and Sarah Catherine Larson; dear brother of Phyllis Ingraham. He was predeceased by three sisters and one brother.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Schimunek Funeral Home Inc., 9705 Belair Rd. at Forge Road, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 18. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 19, at Hiss United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens.

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Randy Johnson,
truck driver
Randy “Budweiser Crazy” Johnson, 55, of Lincoln, passed away Friday, March 14, 2008 at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes.
Randy was born in Point Pleasant, N.J. son of the late Raymond and Florence (Fowler) Johnson.
He was a truck driver for 28 years with Little D Trucking and was known by his radio call “Budweiser Crazy.”
Randy cherished the moments spent with his grandson. He also enjoyed tending to the fishpond he maintained at his home.
In addition to his parents, Randy was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Johnson; and a sister, Sharon Miller.
He is survived by his fiancée and companion of 13 years, Brenda Yakish; a son, Chad Smith Sr. and his fiancée Janet Weiss of Medford, N.J.; a grandson, Chad Smith Jr.; two sisters, Pat Murphy and her husband Gene of Waynesboro, Va., and Joy Kleinknecht of Pemberton, N.J.; his godson, Donnie Lee Dutton Jr.; a special niece, Vicki Dutton and her husband Donnie Sr., all of Ellendale; several nieces, nephews and extended family; and dear friends Denny and Marion Parks of Tabernacle, N.J.
Services were held in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal St., Milton. Burial was private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Randy’s name can be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 163, Salisbury, MD 21803.

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Timothy Swarbrick,
musician, entrepreneur
Timothy “Tim” F. Swarbrick, 72, of Newark, died on Saturday, March 8, 2008, at Christiana Hospital.
Tim was born on March 20, 1935, in Harrison, N.J., son of the late Regina (Hassard) and Timothy T. Swarbrick, and graduated from Harrison High School.
He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Tim then launched a successful jazz music career after graduating from the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, Mass.
He was a much-sought-after bassist for more than 45 years throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York City. He played with many great jazz musicians including Buddy Rich, Barney Kessel, Lionel Hampton, and both the Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller Orchestras. Tim was also instrumental in the formation of the Clifford Brown tribute held yearly in Wilmington. In addition to his musical career, Tim owned his own business, Mostly Musical Tees Inc., specializing in T-shirts and military accessories. (Chances are if you are a military veteran you bought your hat, T-shirt or other military items from Tim.) He also devoted much of the last 15 years to working on veterans causes through Bravo Delaware. As a Korean War veteran himself he lobbied tirelessly for the construction of the Korean War Veterans Memorial. He routinely visited the veterans hospitals in the area with his mobile military store offering hard-to-find military paraphernalia and souvenirs to the disabled vets that could not travel on their own.
He is survived by his four children, Tim of Smyrna, Chris and Mark of Milton and Marybeth Gonce of Newark; his four siblings, Anthony Swarbrick of Hockessin, Richard Swarbrick of Piscataway, N.J., Eugene Swarbrick of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Theresa Morrison of Easton, Pa.; and four grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Newark. Interment was held in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans, Attn: Gift Processing, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.

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Brenda A. Dunstan,
Millsboro homemaker
Brenda A. Dunstan, 54, of Millsboro, formerly of Lancaster, Pa., passed away Tuesday, March 11, 2008, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes.
She was born in Lancaster, daughter to the late John and Mary (Pinkerton) Baldwin.
She was a graduate of the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia.
Brenda is survived by her loving husband of 25 years, Paul T. Dunstan; son, John Paul Dunstan of Millsboro; daughter, Hillary Ann Dunstan of Millsboro; a brother, Michael Pinkerton of Ephrata, Pa.; and sister, Gail Martin of Lititz, Pa.
Services were private.

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Mary L. Fitzgerald,
Mt. Enon member
Mary L. Fitzgerald, 59, of Milford, departed this life on Monday, March 10, 2008, in Milford Memorial Hospital.
Mary was educated in the Delaware public schools.
She furthered her education at Star Technical Institute in Dover and received a Health Examiner/Medical Biller Diploma, which she was very proud of achieving.
Mary worked at various companies until she became disabled.
Mary was united in marriage to Jesse Fitzgerald on Aug. 31, 1974, and was married for 33 years.
She was a member of the Mt. Enon Baptist Church in Milford.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Jesse Fitzgerald; a brother, Paul Joyner; and a sister, Corrine Hammond.
She leaves to cherish her memories a daughter, Esther Fisher of Milford; two stepsons, Jesse Fitzgerald Jr. of Milford and Bobby Tunftall of Bronx, N.Y.; three stepdaughters, Thomasine Charleston of Camden, Betty Allen and Calmeze of Kansas City, Mo., and Rose Ann Motley of Danville, Va.; two sisters, Mary Joyner of Millsboro, and Augusta Joyner of Seaford; one brother, Elton Joyner of Fayetteville, N.C.; one brother-in-law, Gary Hammond of Baltimore; three sisters-in-law, Margaret Terry and Jesse and Janie Terry, all of Bayside, N.Y.; two goddaughters, Ruth Drummond and Thomas of Milford and Selina Tate of Greensboro, N.C.; her godmother, Mary Ann Johnson of Milton; seven grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in Mount Enon Baptist Church, Milford, where friends may view two hours prior. Burial will be in Mount Zion AME Church Cemetery, Ellendale.

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Joshua James Beckwith,
avid hunter
Joshua James Beckwith, 17, of Clayton, passed away at home Thursday, March 13, 2008.
Joshua was born Jan. 9, 1991, in Dover, the son of Mark Daniel Beckwith of Howell, N.J., and Carol Smith Horn, with whom he lived. He was a junior in Smyrna High School.
Joshua was a member of the Young Waterfowlers Program in Smyrna and Ducks Unlimited.
In addition to his mother and father, he is survived by his stepfather, Tom Horn, with whom he lived; his stepmother, Melissa Beckwith of Howell; two stepsisters, Carly Beckwith of Howell and Cathy Horn of Rehoboth Beach; a stepbrother, Brett Beckwith of Howell; his paternal grandfather, Jeff Gibson of Palmyra, N.J.; his paternal great-grandparents, Lorraine and Phil Gingras of Bushnell, Fla.; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, in St. Polycarp Roman Catholic Church, 135 Ransom Lane, Smyrna. Friends may call from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in the Faries Funeral Chapel, 29 S. Main St., Smyrna. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna. The family suggests contributions be made to the Mental Health Association in Delaware for the Survivors of Suicide Support Group, 1813 N. Franklin St., Wilmington, DE 19802.

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Elaine Mary Carson,
retired secretary
Elaine Mary Carson, 68, of Millsboro, formerly of Bowie, Md., passed away Thursday, March 13, 2008, at her home from abdominal mesothelioma, a rare cancer.
In 1961, she married Clark R. Carson Sr., whom she met while living in Washington, D.C. They were married at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and lived in the Washington area with the exception of a tour of duty in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, Germany. Upon retirement in 1992 they moved to Brandywood in Millsboro. Elaine worked as a secretary for various federal agencies, including the White House and the Agency for International Development. Her employment before moving to Delaware was with the corporate offices of Amtrak at Union Station, Washington, D.C. Upon her move to Delaware, she devoted her time to volunteer work with Read Aloud Delaware and Green Valley Nursing Home. She was an avid reader and enjoyed reading to preschool children at day care centers. She also worked part time as a paraprofessional with the Cape Henlopen school system.
She is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Clark R. Carson Sr.; four children, Diane Elaine Johnston of Bradenton, Fla., Clark R. Carson Jr. of Elkridge, Md., Christine Marie Ferralli and her husband Jeffrey of Charlottesville, Va., and Daniel Bruce Carson of Washington, D.C. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren; her sister, Judi Runkle of Wilson, N.C.; a brother, Robert Anderson of Woodbridge, Va.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Her sister, Marlene English of Virginia Beach, Va., passed away in 2006.
The funeral mass and wake were held Monday March 17, at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Lewes, with interment at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Dagsboro. Contributions can be made to Read Aloud Delaware, P.O. Box 60, Georgetown, DE 19947 for the purchase of books; to St. Edmond’s Catholic Church, Enhancement Campaign, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971; or to Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.

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Charles R. Davidson,
Amtrak chef
Charles Richard “Charlie Flowers” Davidson, 56, of Lewes, died Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in Milford, following a long illness.
An executive chef for Amtrak, he was employed by various national corporations.
Charlie graduated from Sparta High School in New Jersey in 1969, and from Rider College in 1973, with a degree in accounting. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1977 after serving overseas. Pursuing a second career, Charlie graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. He provided professional services to Gummersell Properties Inc. of Montclair; James Alexander Corporation of Blairstown, N.J.; and Lowe’s Home Improvement in Lewes.
Charles leaves two sons, James F. Davidson of Red Bank, N.J., and Andrew D. Davidson of San Francisco, Calif.; and their mother, Margaret Robinson Davidson of Nashville, Tenn. A memorial service will be planned for this summer on Cape Cod.
Gifts in Charlie’s memory can be made to the Disabled American Veterans Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250.