02/10/09

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Harlan R. Swain Jr., longtime fireman
Harlan R. “Swainy,” “Sandy” Swain Jr., 62, of Lincoln, died Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, at home surrounded by his family.
He was a veteran of the Delaware Army National Guard, serving in the artillery crew. He worked at George & Lynch Construction as a mechanic, never missing a day’s work for over 40 years. Sandy served with pride and was a life member of the Memorial Fire Company of Slaughter Beach.
During his years of service he served as the building superintendent, chief engineer and was president for 17 years. He was also awarded Fireman of the Year several times. In December 2008, Sandy was honored by the fire company with the President Emeritus Award.
He also loved being home and spending time with his family. He loved working in his yard, which was his pride and joy. He also was very particular with his garage and where his tools were placed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Janet Swain; a daughter, Audrey Swain of Lewes; two sons, Robert Swain and his companion Melinda of Milford, and Dennis Swain and his companion Karen of Millsboro; close family friends, Elaine and Dan Noll of Milford; two sisters, Sharon Piccolo and her husband Gary of Milford, and Linda Wilson and her husband Rupert of Smyrna; 10 grandchildren, Shelby, Bobbi, Kole, Logan, Jordan, Casie, J.R., Daniel, Noah and Brooke; and lifelong friends, Ray Messick and his wife Pam.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Memorial Fire Company, Station 89, Bay Avenue, Slaughter Beach, where friends may call one hour prior. Burial with firefighter’s honors will be held in Lincoln Cemetery, Clendaniel Pond Road, Lincoln.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to either Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963; or to the Memorial Fire Company, 359 Bay Ave., Milford, DE 19963. Arrangements by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford.

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Greta Park Van Aalten, avid reader
Greta Park Van Aalten, 93, of Ocean View, passed away Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009.
She was born March 13, 1915, in Amsterdam, Holland, daughter of the late Isaac and Beetja Park. She survived the Holocaust in France and came to the United States in 1946. Mrs. Van Aalten was the president of Hadassah from 1980 to 1985. She was an avid reader and a fan of tennis, bowling and the New York Mets baseball team. She enjoyed playing Mahjong, Scrabble and bridge.
She is survived by two sons, William Van Aalten of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Franklin William Van Aalten of Boca Raton, Fla.; a daughter, Beatrice Horn and her husband Lee of Ocean View; five grandchildren, Jeffrey Louis Cohen and his wife Beth of Wantagh, N.Y., Robin Jean Boehm of Wantagh, Barbara Lynn Salony and her husband Ken of Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Van Aalten and his wife Maryann of Dix Hills, N.Y., and Jennifer McDonald and her husband John of Tacoma, Wash.; and seven great-grandchildren, Adam Cohen, Ian Cohen, Samuel Seigel, Laura Boehm, Harrison McDonald, Noah McDonald and Liam Van Aalten. She was predeceased by her husband Louis Van Aalten and grandson Douglas Van Aalten.
Services were held Sunday, Feb. 8, at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Lewes, with interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Pilottown Road, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Seaside Jewish Community Center, PO Box 1472, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971; or Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

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Charles A. Coles Jr., retired steelworker
Charles Andrew Coles Jr. of Dagsboro passed away Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md. He was formerly of Dundalk, Md. Charles was a retired steelworker with Bethlehem Steel. Charles was a World War II Navy veteran. He is predeceased by his parents, Charles A. Sr. and Eva Whitehead Coles. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Bernadine F. Coles; sons, Charles A. Coles III and wife Diane, and Bryan R. Coles and wife Deneane; a daughter, Sharon M. Young and husband Bob; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Service and burial will be private.
Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro.

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Christine G. Whaley, Perdue associate
Christine Godfrey Whaley, 57, of Dagsboro fought a long and courageous battle with breast cancer and died peacefully at Peninsula Regional Medical Center Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009.
Chris was the daughter of the late Preston Godfrey Sr., and the late Hilda Parker Godfrey, of Millsboro. She joined Perdue Farms Inc. in 1976 and had only recently taken a leave of absence due to her illness. Chris quickly became one of Perdue’s reliable “go to” associates and was instrumental in the development of the marketing services team, providing sales and marketing support in the areas of public relations, consumer promotions, consumer relations and sports marketing. Among her many accomplishments were the creation of the first Perdue consumer relations team, launching the company’s toll-free consumer helpline and the development of the Perdue website. Special projects were her passion, and over the years she was responsible for hosting numerous customer tours and industry events, and most recently led the team to restore the Perdue family farmhouse in Salisbury, Md.
Chris had a “can do” attitude; there was nothing that Chris would say she couldn’t do and she set extremely high standards for herself and her team. To the end, Chris remained the consummate team player and cheerleader for Perdue and for all of her fellow associates. She was a dedicated member of the Perdue Relay for Life team, and her spirited fight against this awful disease was inspiring to all who knew her.
She cherished time with her family, enjoying trips to New York City, Disney World and Colorado with her children and grandchildren, and special times at the beach. The devotion of her family was a source of strength to her throughout her illness. Never one to take without giving much more in return, Chris will be dearly missed by her extended family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. In mourning her passing, a friend wrote, “Chris was one of those rare people that touches your life once and then works her way into your heart forever.”
Chris is survived by her daughters and their families: Kimberly and Daniel King of Berlin, Md., and their children Berkeley, Daniel and Ascher; Tiffany and Mark Smith of Seaford, and their sons Hunter and Christian; stepdaughter Robyn McEwen, husband Sam and children Ashlyn and Brett. She is also survived by her sisters Lorraine Weatherford of Midlothian, Va., and her husband Bob; Dawn Godfrey of Rehoboth and her friend Dave Urian; Robin Godfrey of Wilmington; and her brother, Preston E. Godfrey Jr. and his wife Betsy. Additional survivors include many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Watson’s Funeral Home in Millsboro. Visitation with the family will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and interment in Millsboro Cemetery will follow the service.
Contributions in memory of Chris and her courageous fight may be made to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Women Supporting Women (106 Circle Ave. No. 101, Salisbury, MD 21801) or the charity of your choice.

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George T. Bolt, avid sportsman
George T. “Sonny” Bolt, 70, of Clayton, passed away peacefully at home following a courageous battle with cancer, Wednesday Feb. 4, 2009.
Mr. Bolt was born Aug. 22, 1938, in Troutdale, Va., the son of the late Thomas M. and Josephine Gooslin Bolt. He worked as a self-employed carpet mechanic. Mr. Bolt was an avid sportsman and former member of the NRA and enjoyed spending time with his grandsons, Brian and Tommy Walker, to whom he was a special G-Daddy.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters. Mr. Bolt is survived by his wife, Rebecca Hammond Bolt; two sons, Wayne Bolt and his wife Donna and their children Preston and Courtney of San Diego, Calif., and Jay Bolt of Harbeson and his son Ricky; a daughter, Dawn Walker and her husband Brian of Smyrna; three brothers and four sisters; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sunday, Feb. 8, in the Faries Funeral Chapel, Smyrna, with burial private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Delaware Hospice, 911 South DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901; or to the Brain Injury Association of Delaware, 32 West Loockerman St. Suite 103, Dover, DE 19904; or to Peach Tree Acres, 2600 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Harbeson, DE 19951.

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Mark Anthony Piper, Army veteran
Spc. Mark Anthony Piper, 39, of Ellendale, departed this life suddenly Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, in Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C., following the repast of his brother Gary Vines Sr. Mark was born Dec. 20, 1969, in Milford Memorial Hospital, Milford, to Martha M. Piper of Ellendale and the late Willie H. Vines Sr. After graduating from Milford Senior High School in 1989, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1991, serving with the 945th Service Company C & C Milford, and then recently transferred to Unit 262 Maintenance, Dagsboro. At the time of his death he was employed as a driver for over 12 years for Atlantic Concrete, Milford. He began his own business in 2008, M. A. Piper Trucking. Mark attended Bethel A.M.E. Church in Milton. He recently began attending Welcome Full Gospel Holiness Church in Slaughter Neck under the leadership of Bishop Jaime Hazzard. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Frances and Herman Piper Sr.; two sisters, Juanita L. Piper-Loper and Parenthia Piper; two brothers, Marshall W. Piper and Gary Vines Sr. He leaves to cherish loving memories a son, Mark Anthony Phillips of Greenwood; his mother, Martha M. Piper of Ellendale; seven sisters, Shirley Piper of Ellendale, Francine Piper of Milton, Darlene Piper of Dover, Sandra Piper-Waters (husband Ricky) of Milford, Mary Roberson of Greenville, N.C., Shirley Davis of Bowie, Md., Barbara Adams (husband Jack) of Lancaster, S.C.; one brother, Willie Vines Jr. (wife Linda) of Laurel, Md; a special friend, Crystal Cannon and her children, Kavoun and Unique Cannon; a great-aunt, Roberta Burton of Milton; five uncles, David H. Piper (wife Ardith), Samuel L. Piper, Arthur J. Piper (wife Elvenlene), Noah T. Piper (wife Eunice), and Paul E. Piper; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many numerous special friends, including 945th Service Company C & C and 262 Maintenance Company Unit in Dagsboro. Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 7, at Welcome Full Gospel Holiness Church, Slaughter Neck, with interment in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro, with full military honors.

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David J. Massey, retired manager
David Julian Massey, 85, of Dover died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, in Kent General Hospital.
Mr. Massey was born March 20, 1923, in Emporia, Va., to the late Jesse W. Massey Sr. and Alva Hayes Massey. He graduated from Fork Union Military Academy, Fork Union, Va., and attended Benjamin University in Washington, D.C.
He was an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II; he saw combat in the Pacific Theater and was recalled in 1952 during the Korean War. Mr. Massey had worked for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Dover from 1947 until his retirement in 1991. He became general manager and secretary in 1953. Mr. Massey was director of the Dover, Henderson, N.C., Salem, N.H., and Manchester, N.H. divisions of the Coca–Cola Bottling Companies.
Mr. Massey was a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Dover, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Inc. and Dover Rotary Club. He was on the board for The Elizabeth W. Murphey School and a past board member of Kent General Hospital, the chairman of the City of Dover Planning Commission as well as serving on the city council in Dover and Fenwick Island. Mr. Massey was a member of the Union Lodge 7 A.F & A.M, and was the longest-standing member of the Presbyterian Church of Dover.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, H. Earl Massey, who was killed in action during World War II, Charles E., George E. and Jesse W. Massey.
Mr. Massey is survived by his wife of 62 years, Charlotte Ann Adams Massey of Dover; his son, Michael Massey and his wife Carolyn of Bishopville, Md.; his daughter, Barbara Sidel and her husband Edward of Dover; four grandchildren, Matthew Massey and his wife Jill, Sarah McCabe and her husband Draper, Erin Southard and her husband Bryan, and Ryan Tieman; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 7, at Presbyterian Church of Dover, with interment in Lakeside Cemetery, Dover. Arrangements by Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover.

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Arthur G. Buchholz, loved hunting
Arthur G. Buchholz, 60, of Lewes, passed away peacefully Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Buchholz was born March 9, 1948, in Beaver Dam, Wis., son of the late Harry A. and Kathleen Galland Buchholz.
Mr. Buchholz loved hunting and fishing. He was devoted to his family.
In additon to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son John Toohey.
He is survived by his wife Alice Buchholz; six children, Victoria Homan, Susan Monroe, Kevin Toohey and Michael Toohey all of Lewes, Mary Alice Zeh of Exton, Pa. and Alicia Myers of Easton, Md.; and his beloved 12 grandchildren, Chris, Nick, Sean, Meggie, Justin, Rachel, Ryan, Sarah Em, Emma, Lily, Owen Wyle and Makenna.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning at 1 p.m. Interment will be private. The Rev. Gary Tulak will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Gull House, 38149 Terrace Road, Rehoboth Beach DE 19971.