Frances R. McGehrin, avid reader
Frances R. Connor McGehrin, 79, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away peacefully at her residence Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. She was born Sept. 28, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pa., daughter of the late Joseph and Anna Hinkel Connor.
Mrs. McGehrin enjoyed shopping and gardening. She was a member of St. Edmond’s Catholic Church. Mrs. McGehrin was an avid reader of religious literature and had an extensive library of over 1,000 books. She was very devoted to her family.
She is survived by her husband, Edward F. McGehrin; three daughters, Kathy Van Dyck of Alexandria, Va., Peggy Kelly of Emmitsburg, Md., and Marianne Rhine of Mt. Airy, Md.; three sons, Pat McGehrin of Rehoboth Beach, Mike McGehrin of Billings, Mont., and Martin McGehrin of Upper Marlboro, Md.; 18 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and two sisters, Nancy Williams of Pennsylvania and Betty Laudette of Oklahoma. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two children, Anne and Tim, and a brother, Joe Connor.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. Edmond’s Catholic Church, King Charles Avenue and Laurel Street, Rehoboth Beach with the Very Rev. Raymond L. Forester as celebrant. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Dover. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 28, at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes, and again on Saturday at St. Edmond’s Church beginning at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the American Diabetes Association, 100 West 10th St. Suite 1002, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Leta A. Conn, Millsboro resident
Leta A. Conn, 95, of Millsboro, passed away peacefully at her home Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009.
She was born in West Chester, Pa., daughter of the late Lewis and Orpha (Pyle) Pennington.
Leta was preceded in death by her husband, Hayes, in 1989.
She is survived by four sons, Hayes T. “Bud” Conn Jr. of Millville, Lewis G. Conn of Millsboro, Richard Conn of Millsboro and Kenneth J. Conn of Fontana, Calif.; a daughter, Kathryn L. Fahey of Bear; her sister, E. Penny Berry of Wilmington; 12 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 31, at Gracelawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 2220 N. DuPont Hwy., New Castle. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Leta’s memory to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963. Arrangements by Melson Funeral Services of Millsboro.

Arthur R. DeFilippis, retired trooper
Arthur Ralph DeFilippis, 85, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at his residence. He was born April 26, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pa., son of the late Giovanni “John” and Maria (Marzella) DeFilippis.
Mr. DeFilippis retired in 1978 after serving 31 years as a New Jersey state trooper. He then worked for Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey for five years before retiring to Delaware in 2004. He devoted his spare time to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Sussex Pines Country Club. He served his country during World War II with the U.S. Marine Corps and was a member of American Legion Post 28 and the Marine Corps League. He was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Ralph and Vincent DeFilippis; and a sister, Mary Lou Isenberg. He is survived by his wife Doris (Salzmann) DeFilippis; two daughters, Valerie DeFilippis of Pen Argyle, Pa., and Rosemary Albanese and her husband Joseph of Verona, N.J.; three stepdaughters, Shelley Fritts and her husband Stephen of Oxford, N.J., Deborah Burd and her husband Guy of Cumming, Ga., and Cindy Murray and her husband Edward of Easton, Pa.; one stepson, Douglas Stauffer and his wife Beth Ann of Washington, N.J.; 11 grandchildren, Nicole, Joey, Anthony, Courtney, Erin, Casey, Cory, Scott, Caitlyn, Matt and Chris; two great-grandchildren: Hailey and Ryan; and two sisters, Olga Thun of Bloomfield, N.J. and Joan Miller of Nutley, N.J.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach, with Pastor Donald Schaffer officiating. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to: Tunnell Cancer Center, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172 or Lutheran Church of Our Savior at the above address.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes.

Ronald Jakubek, retired electrician
Ronald Jakubek, 75, of Lewes, passed away Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at his residence surrounded by his loved ones. He was born March 15, 1934, in Yonkers, N.Y., son of the late Alfred and Jenny (Pucila) Jakubek.
Mr. Jakubek and his wife relocated to the beach 12 years ago from New York. Mr. Jakubek was an electrician who retired after 50 years of service with Local 501 IBEW and Local 3. He was a sports enthusiast who also enjoyed collecting rare coins and sheet music.
He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife Barbara (Biermann) Jakubek; three sons, Chris and his wife Karen of Ellicott City, Md., and their children Brian, Timothy and Allison; Scott and his wife Maria of Westfield, N.J.., and their children Miranda and Tyler; Ron and his wife Annette of Armonk, N.Y., and their children Madison and Gavin; his sister, Alfreda Jakubek of Yonkers; and his brother, Gary Jakubek of Putnam Valley, N.Y.
Funeral services were held at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes,
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

John F. Harrison, Millsboro resident
John Fitzgerald Harrison, 45, of Millsboro, passed away Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at the Beebe Medical Center in Lewes.
He was born in Wilmington, son of Walter C. Harrison and Rosalie Gonzon.
His mother, Rosalie, preceded John in death. He is survived by his father, Walter C. Harrison and brother Walter C. Harrison, both of Summer Hill, Pa.; two sisters, LaDonna Hall and her husband Brian of Wilmington, and Rosanna Brown and her husband Raymond of West Chester, Pa.; nieces and nephews, Amanda Smith, Carolane Smith, Seth Smith, Brianna Brown and Raymond Brown Jr.; he is also survived by his aunt, Patty Carpenter of North East, Md.
Services and burial will be private.
Arrangements by Melson Funeral Services of Long Neck.

Sylvia H. Gershman, business cofounder
Sylvia H. Gershman, 93, of Wilmington, formerly of Rehoboth Beach and Hollywood, Fla., died Friday, Aug. 14, 2009. Sylvia was cofounder of Norm Gershman’s Things to Wear in Rehoboth Beach. She enjoyed helping her many friends (customers) find their special bargains.
She is survived by her son, Norman (Marilyn); and two grandsons, David and Brett. She was preceded in death by her husband Benjamin H. Gershman; brother Morris Horowitz; and sister Gertrude Taub Rizen. A graveside service was held Sunday, Aug. 16.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Hillel, c/o Kristol Center for Jewish Life, 47 Delaware Ave., Newark, DE 19711. The family can be reached c/o Norm Gershman, PO Box 4667, Newark, DE 19715.

Granville W. Mills Jr., Milton native
Granville W. Mills Jr., 85, of Milton died Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, at Bayhealth at Milford Memorial Hospital.
Granville was born in Milton, the son of the late Granville W. Mills Sr. and Bessie Maloney Mills.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was employed at Diamond State Roller Mills from 1946 to 1959; he then was employed at Clyde Betts and Sons until his retirement in 1990.
Mr. Mills was a member of the Goshen U. M. Church in Milton.
Spending time with his family and friends always put a smile on Mr. Mills’ face. He was an avid gardener and he maintained a pristine yard.
In addition to his parents, his wife, Emma Jean Chandler Mills, preceded him in death.
He is survived by four children, Carol Moore, Bill Mills, Donna Hummel and David Mills; one brother, Donald Mills; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; six nieces; and one nephew.
Funeral services were held at noon, Thursday, Aug. 27, in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, Milton.
Interment will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Milton.

James Bradford Sr., retired ironworker
James Harvey Bradford Sr., 88, of Lewes, formerly of Claymont, passed away Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at Regal Heights Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, in Hockessin.
Jim was born in Wilmington to the late George and Cecelia Maguire Bradford.
Jim served his country during World War II as a corpsman in the U.S. Navy from 1942 until 1949, and he continued service in the U.S. Army as a sergeant through 1950.
Jim retired from the Iron Workers Local Union 451 in Elsmere after 27 years of service. Prior to that, he worked as a welder at Sun Ship and Westinghouse in Essington, Pa. Jim also drove buses for Charlie Wertz in Marcus Hook, Pa., and the city of Chester, Pa., and he drove car transports and tanker trucks.
Jim loved to drive around the country with his wife, Elaine, and they were able to visit 49 of the 50 states. Their favorite place was the Grand Teton Mountains and Lake Louise in Wyoming. Jim was known to his family and friends as a man of unending jokes and stories. He enjoyed singing and had a beautiful voice even into his mid-80s. He was a member of the Grand Dads singing group in Lewes, and he also sang in shows with the Cape Henlopen Senior Center in Rehoboth Beach. As a young man, Jim had the opportunity to sing in clubs in New York City and Philadelphia.
Jim was a member of the Harrington Moose Lodge 534, where he held several officer positions. He was a charter member of the Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge and was a member of the Horse Island Rod and Gun Club, also know as the Shanty, a private club in Lewes. He was also a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Elaine; his son, Lawrence; his sisters, Sis and Vera; and his brothers, John, Joseph and Stuart. He is survived by his daughters, Lois Nowell (Alex) of Middletown, and Vicki Bennett (Steve) of Rising Sun, Md.; his sons, James Jr. (Pat) of Portland, Ore., Robert (Ruth) of Bear, and Joseph (Pat) of Lincoln; his sister, Marie, of Quincy, Mass.; 22 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 2431 Frazer Road, Newark DE 19702.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice, 702B Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19805.