09/22/09

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C. William ‘Bill’ Farmer, boat captain
C. William “Bill” Farmer, 67, of Conowingo, Md., passed away Thurday, Sept. 17, 2009.
Born in Conowingo March 2, 1942, Bill was the son of the late Clyde and Letitia Frist Farmer. He was known to many as “Captain Bill” after the U.S. Coast Guard granted him his Merchant Marine officer license in 1993. He captained his boat “Pipe Dream” out of Indian River Inlet. His work career included Westinghouse, Wiley Manufacturing, DuPont of Wilmington and the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Md.
Bill was a member of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church and was an adult leader in Boy Scout Troop 92 and for many years was Cub Scout master of Pack 92. He was active in the N.R.A., the Indian River Boaters Association, Ducks Unlimited and Northern Chesapeake Sportsmen for Kids. Bill was a fan of various sports, but was know especially as a huge Baltimore Ravens fan.
Bill is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Bobbie Farmer; a son, James Blair Farmer and his wife Peggy S. Farmer of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; a daughter, Michelle L. Farmer of Wilmington; a sister, Betty Farmer Nivison and her husband Robert of Bel Air, Md.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., 111 S. Queen St., Rising Sun, Md., at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 25. Friends and family may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 23, or Friday, one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Boy Scout Troop 92 of Mount Pleasant Church or Northern Chesapeake Sportsmen for Kids c/o the funeral home.

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Walter ‘Lee’ Monroe, store owner
Walter Leroy “Lee” Monroe, 89, of Millsboro, died Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at the family home where he was born.
He was born Sept. 20, 1920, at home; he was the son of the late Walter P. and Bertha Moore Monroe.
He was owner and manager of the family retail clothing store, Monroe Apparel, which started in Millsboro and was a successful multi-generational family business for 83 years.
He was a veteran of World War II, and a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge (Bastogne Campaign) and was a crewmember of the 445th Anti-Aircraft Battery. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, and taught Sunday school after the war. He was awarded a 60-year membership pin. He was a member of both the American Legion Post 22 and VFW Post 7422. He served as post commander several terms in the legion. He became a civic leader, co-founding the chamber of commerce in Millsboro, served 15 years on the Millsboro Town Council and one year as president of the council. He also served on the Millsboro Cemetery Committee.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Thelma D. Monroe; and four children, Walter Keith Monroe and his wife Marie of Millsboro; Mark William Monroe and his wife Emily of Ruckersville, Va.; and daughters Karen Jo Monroe Reed and husband Jim of Lansing, Kan. and Pamela Monroe Warrington, and her husband Daniel of Millsboro. He has eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by a niece, Tamara Monroe Toomey and her husband Everett.
He was preceded by one brother, Millard W. Monroe, who was his business partner in Monroe Apparel for many years.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call two hours prior for visitation from noon to 2 p.m. The Rev. Ed Kuhling will officiate. Burial will be in Millsboro Cemetery.
Contributions are suggested to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

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Janice C. Irelan, real estate broker
Janice Carole Wilkinson Irelan, 73, of Millsboro, passed away peacefully Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at her residence She was born in Wilmington Jan. 20, 1936, daughter of the late Ralph and Lillian (Mahan) Wilkinson and granddaughter of the late Leslie W. and Blanche C. Mahan. She was also predeceased by her husband Donald E. Irelan, Sept. 26, 2000, and her son David W. Irelan Dec. 2, 1977.
Mrs. Irelan was retired as a licensed Delaware real estate broker and Delaware real property appraiser, a career which included senior vice president of the former Anderson Stokes Real Estate of Rehoboth Beach.
For many years Mrs. Irelan and her family resided right on the beach at Dewey Beach, a time that was always remembered by her with great fondness. She was an avid bowler and bowled along with her husband in leagues up and down the state as well as being a coach for her children’s bowling groups over the years. No matter where they lived she was always involved with the Girl Scouts, both as a leader and, in many cases, actually started many chapters. Many will remember that she was also actively engaged in the Miss Delaware program from assisting with its organization to attending many of the pageant events.
She is survived by her son, Donald W. Irelan and wife April of Millsboro; and two daughters, Carole D. Franzoni and husband Joseph of Newark, and Patti L. Cropper and husband Gregory of Lewes; a sister, Judith Girard and husband Phillip of Lisbon, Conn.; and brother, Ralph David Wilkinson III and wife Neva of Lewes; eight grandchildren, Melissa Cole, Patrick Irelan, Lisa Payton, Gary Connelly, Christopher Irelan, Eric Connelly, Ryan Cropper and Stacy Gautier; 12 great-grandchildren, including David, Riley, Adam, Brittany, Austin, Mackenzie, Cameren, Michael, Hunter, Brandon, Kailee and Brianna.
Funeral services will be held at the Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 23, where friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Interment will be at Henlopen Memorial Park near Milton. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

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Jeanie M. Winslow, social worker
Jeanie Morse Littell Winslow, 91, Wilmington wife, mother, friend, poet, artist and social worker, died peacefully in her home at Foulk Manor North Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009.
Mrs. Winslow was born in Keene, N.H., July 8, 1918, to the Rev. Dr. John S. Littell and Gertrude Wilson Littell. While still an infant, she lost her mother to the 1918 influenza pandemic. She was raised by her father in Keene and in West Hartford, Conn., and then by her father and stepmother, Estelle Sherman Littell, in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.
Mrs. Winslow attended the Hannah More Academy in Reisterstown, Md. In 1932, after her father died, Mrs. Winslow spent a memorable year with her father’s relatives in Honolulu, where she attended St. Andrew’s Priory. She also had fond memories of the summer of 1936, which she spent in Great Britain. During that trip, among other things, the Queen unexpectedly passed right by the open window out of which she happened to be gazing. Mrs. Winslow graduated from Germantown Friends School in 1937.
Mrs. Winslow obtained her bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1941, where she was a Chi Omega sorority member. As an incoming junior, she stopped a handsome young law student named Julian Dallas Winslow to ask him for directions, and the two of them married Dec. 27, 1941. Their 63-year marriage and their children were what she prized most in life. J.D., as her husband was known, died in March 2005.
Mrs. Winslow worked as a licensed clinical social worker for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services in the late 1960s. Later, she became an artist and created many oil and watercolor paintings of local scenes. Her first collection of poetry, titled “Finding Poetry in Everyday Life,” was published in 2003. Mrs. Winslow’s greatest joy in life, however, came from making a home for her family and from extending the gift of hospitality to her friends and relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Winslow generously contributed a wealth of artifacts, documents and materials about the Littell family, which has had connections to Delaware for many generations, to the Special Collections of the University of Delaware Library.
Mrs. Winslow is survived by her children, J. Dallas Winslow Jr. and his wife Linda Esper Winslow of Wilmington; Mary Winslow Reddick and her husband, Haul Millis Reddick III of Kingman, Ariz.; and Helen Littell Winslow and her husband, Jonathan David Jaffe of Wilmington. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Elizabeth Winslow King and her husband, Matthew William King of Stamford, Conn.; Christine Winslow Petrillo and her husband Joseph Allan Petrillo of Centreville; Kenan Winslow Jaffe of Boston, Mass.; and Nathaniel Harrington Jaffe and Saul Handler Jaffe of Wilmington. Finally, she is survived by her great-grandchildren, Grace King and Jack King of Stamford and John Petrillo and Annabelle Petrillo of Centreville.
Funeral services were held at Grace Episcopal Church, 4906 Concord Pike. Instead of flowers, the family suggests donations to Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, DE 19717-5267, or to Grace Episcopal Church.

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Willie Fay Hudson, Milton resident
Willie Fay Hudson, 86, of Milton, died Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. Visitation was held at Friendship Baptist Church, Lewes. Funeral services followed. Burial was in the church cemetery.

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Thomas C. Tulley, marksman, comptroller
Thomas C. Tulley, 65, of Newark, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, at Heartland Hospice House in Wilmington after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Detroit, Mich. June 20, 1944, Tom was a son of the late Harold J. Tulley and Mary Clark Tulley. With his family he moved to Newark in 1948, when his father was appointed comptroller of the new Chrysler Parts Plant. Following his graduation from Newark High School, Tom proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. He was stationed for a time in Germany and distinguished himself as an expert sharpshooter and marksman.
Following his honorable discharge from active military duty, Tom accepted a position with the Chrysler Corporation, where he would go on to enjoy a career spanning 43 years. He took great pride in his role as a benefits representative and delighted in helping Chrysler employees receive each and every benefit to which they were due. He believed that no challenge was too great in the pursuit of championing his fellow employees. As a testament to his character and his reputation as an honest and untiring fighter for workers’ rights, he continued to be consulted by Chrysler plant workers on matters of insurance, Social Security and retirement pensions long after his retirement.
While still employed with Chrysler, he served as an officer of the Chrylser Credit Union, lending his expertise in both bookkeeping and accounting. During his career, he also continued his education with extensive coursework at the University of Delaware.
Active throughout his life in the community he loved, Tom was an influential and well-respected child advocate for the New Castle County Family Court System. His love of children also led him and his beloved wife, Brenda, to open their home to young people experiencing family difficulties. He counseled children in need during both short and extended stays and always considered them as part of his family.
Tom was a devoted family man whose greatest pleasure was time spent with his wife, children and grandchildren. He shared with them his passion for living life to the fullest, caring for others and also cheering for his favorite team, the Phillies.
Tom is survived by the love of his life, his devoted wife of 27 years, Brenda Tulley; children, Brian Tulley (Stacey) of Newark; Tracy Loeb (Brian) of Millsboro; Jason Vandever of New Castle; and Sara Tulley of Newark; brothers, Hal Tulley of Bel Air, Md.; Paul A. Tulley of West Lake Village, Calif.; and Jerry Tully of Princeton, N.J.; sister, Mary Spittel of Newark; grandchildren, Jacqueline, Nicole, Chris and Brennan; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, where friends may call after 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice House, 5661 Ocheltree Lane, Wilmington, DE 19808; or to the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, c/o Christiana Care Foundation, P.O. Box 1668, Wilmington, DE 19899.

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Robert N. Baldwin, retired veteran
Robert N. Baldwin, 73, of Millsboro passed away Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, in his home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born July 8, 1936, in Spring City, Pa., son of the late George and Eva (Schrack) Baldwin. Robert served his country proudly in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He worked for Baltimore Air Coil and retired in 1989.
Robert was a member of the American Legion Post 28, Millsboro and a life member of the VFW 7447, Rehoboth.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years Dawn (Shanley) Baldwin; a brother Harvey; and four sisters, Marie, Betty, Jean and Shirley.
Services and burial are private.

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Anthony J. Kowalski, retired truck driver
Anthony J. Kowalski “Andy,” 91, of Harbeson, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, at the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., April 20, 1918, son of the late Stefan and Stella (Lewandowski) Kowalski.
Mr. Kowalski had been employed by Delaware Beverage Company as a truck driver for 34 years before retiring. He later worked for 13 years in the dietary department of Beebe Medical Center, Lewes, and continued volunteering for the medical center. Andy was an Army veteran, 32nd degree mason with Endeavor Lodge, Milton, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Unity Chapter 16, Lewes, where he was a past patron.
In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his sister, Sophie Brown. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lurene F. (Blakeman) Kowalski; three daughters, Diane White and husband Franklin of Wilmington, Lurene White and husband William of Wilmington, and Andrea Watkins and husband Philip of Rehoboth Beach; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Alfreda Staniszewski of Wilmington; and a brother, Henry Kowalski and wife Florence of Wilmington.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes; the Rev. Max Wolf will be officiating. Interment with military honors will be at All Saints’ Cemetery, Beaver Dam Road near Angola.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

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Dawn M. Lake, humane society member
Dawn Michele Lake, formerly Dawn Michele Johns, of Dundalk, Md., passed away Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, at Bayview Hospital in Baltimore, Md.
She was born April 24, 1968.
Her smile, kindness and grace will be missed by those who touched her life.
Dawn’s capacity for compassion, trust and devotion was an example to all and she always treated people with respect.
Dawn was a 1986 graduate of Dulaney High School in Timonium, Md., was on the board of directors for the Effingham, Ill. Humane Society for several years and volunteered at the local church helping to feed the less fortunate.
Dawn is survived by her father, L. Rod Johns of Dundalk, Md. and her mother, Diane Larney of Rehoboth Beach.
There will be no services for Dawn; she wanted her body donated to science.
She wanted to be remembered for how she was - vibrant, vivacious and innocent.