10/02/09

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William M. Harris, DuPont retiree
William M. “Chick” Harris, 88, of Dover, formerly of Georgetown, passed away Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, at the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford. Mr. Harris was born July 28, 1921, in Secretary, Md., to the late Charles E. Sr. and Lydia Ruth Wheatley Harris. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Madera Ireland Harris, in 1998.
Mr. Harris worked at the Seaford DuPont Nylon Plant, retiring after many years of service. Mr. Harris was a U.S. Army airborne veteran of World War II serving in the Normandy, northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, central European and African Middle Eastern campaigns. He was a member of the Blue Hen VFW Post 6483 in Milford, the Seaford American Legion Post and the Seaford Moose Lodge 1728, where he served as governor from 1992-93. Mr. Harris loved to travel, surf fish and camp, and recently enjoyed working with ceramics.
Mr. Harris is survived by a daughter, Hazel Mitchell and husband Willard of Dover; a son, Elmer Harris and wife Rose of Salisbury, Md.; two brothers, Charles Harris of Ocala, Fla., and Robert Harris of Arroyo Grande, Calif.; two sisters, Edna Mae Gordy and Lois Mowbry, both of Cambridge, Md.; two special caregivers and granddaughters, Eleanor Ireland and husband William, and Pat Darlin and husband Al; nine grandchildren; numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends. The family wishes to issue a special “thank you” to Green Meadows and Jessie Pinkney.
Services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro. Pastor Paul E. Isaacs will officiate the service.
Friends may also call at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 5. There will be a Loyal Order of Moose ceremony at 7 p.m. Interment with military honors will be at the Dagsboro Redmen’s Memorial Cemetery, Dagsboro.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963 in memory of William Harris.

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Scott D. Ream, self-employed roofer
Scott D. Ream, 45, of Millsboro, died suddenly Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, at Milford Bayhealth Center, Milford.
Scott was born Nov. 20, 1963, in York, Pa., son of Thomas E. and Carolyn McDaniel Ream of Milford.
Scott moved to Delaware from York some 25 years ago. He was a self-employed roofer who enjoyed fishing, bicycling and working outdoors. He loved animals and was always ready to lend a helping hand. He surrounded himself with family and friends and his greatest gift of all was being an organ donor.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his fiancée, Sandra Bruce of Millsboro; a daughter, Jennifer Beard, and granddaughter Ava Beard, both of York; and two sisters, Melissa Crispin and her husband Joe of Lewes, and Kelly Stanley and her husband Jon of Milford.
A celebration of Scott’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association, 1019 Mattlind Way, Milford, DE 19963.

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Matthew E. Pangburn, VFW life member
Matthew E. “Matt” Pangburn Jr., 85, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009.
He was born in Ocean City, N.J., in 1924. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served in the South Pacific as a pharmacist’s mate on the assault-attack ship USS Libra. He was present at the signing of the peace treaty ending World War II with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He was a life member of VFW Post 7447, Rehoboth Beach.
After his Navy service, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he met and married Helen D. Rollins. They moved to Montgomery County, Md., and were together for 52 years. He was employed by Thompson Dairy, Standard Coffee and Coffee Butler for many years.
Matt and Helen first came to Rehoboth Beach in the late 1970s. They had a Nanticoke home built in Country Club Estates. They owned the Sea Mist Lounge on First Street, now known as the Frogg Pond.
He was a champion lifelong tournament bowler since handset pinball days. He won countless trophies and awards, including a trip to England and a gold medal in the Senior Olympics in Rehoboth in bowling. He was an avid and talented woodworker, and he donated much of his work to the annual Delaware Hospice Festival of Trees.
He is survived by his son Gary; grandson James; and sisters Ruth Corcoran and Carol Prince.
Donations in his name may be made to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford DE 19963.

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Charles ‘Sparky’ Sparks, Stockley retiree
Charles Wayne “Sparky” Sparks, 75, of Georgetown, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, at home.
Mr. Sparks was born Feb. 1, 1934, in Wilmington, to the late Charles Walter and Ada Blanch Rawley Sparks.
Mr. Sparks retired from Stockley Center, working in the maintenance department for many years. He loved fishing, boating, motorcycling and camping.
He is survived by his companion of six years, Crystal Parsons; three sons, Paul Sparks and wife Lynda of Angola, Charles W. Sparks Jr. of Georgetown, and Wayne Charles Sparks of Georgetown; two daughters, Cheryl Wootten of Georgetown, and Wendy O’Neill and husband Mike of Georgetown; several members of extended family and friends, and his beloved canine, Thor.
Friends and family may call from 6 to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, at the Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963 in memory of Sparky Sparks.

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Audrey J. Sensale, Lewes resident
Audrey J. Sensale, 79, of Lewes, passed away Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, at St. George’s Chapel, Route 23, Angola. A full obituary will run at a later date. Arrangements by McCrery Funeral Homes.

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George H. Wicks Jr., self-employed farmer
George H. Wicks Jr., 91, of Smyrna, passed away Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, in Capitol Health Care Center, Dover.
Mr. Wicks was born Sept. 6, 1918, in Wantagh, N.Y., the son of the late George H. and Anna Erb Wicks. Mr. Wicks was a self-employed farmer for most of his life. He was a member of St. Polycarp’s Roman Catholic Church in Smyrna.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Madeleine M. Wicks in 1977; three brothers, Paul, Arthur and Chris Wicks; and a sister, Elizabeth Wicks. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Amelia Maiese Wicks; four sons, George Wicks III and his wife Debbie of Smyrna, John Wicks and his wife Debbie of Kissimmee, Fla., Robert Wicks and his wife Mary of Smyrna, and James Wicks and his wife June, also of Smyrna; three daughters, Madeline Newman and her husband Bill of Henderson, Tenn., Marie Steckman and her husband Jack of Lewes, and Susan Sammons and her husband Ray of Smyrna; a brother, Fred Wicks of Middletown; a sister, Anna Wicks of Oyster Bay, N.Y.; 23 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, in St. Polycarp’s Roman Catholic Church, 135 Ransom Lane, Smyrna. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, in the Faries Funeral Chapel, 29 South Main St., Smyrna. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Smyrna.

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Daniel Gears, avid hunter
Daniel Gears, 43, of Newark, passed away Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. Daniel worked for Delcard Mechanical Contractors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed scuba diving and riding his motorcycle.
He is survived by his mother, Theresa A. Gears of Rehoboth Beach; his brother, Robert E. Gears and his wife Ruth; his sister, Deborah A. Corbett and her husband William; his girlfriend, Debra Moser and her children; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Edgar F. Gears in 1995.
The family would like to thank the Bayada Nurses for their care of Dan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, at Holy Family Church, 15 Gender Road, Newark. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone, Road, Pike Creek. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Compassionate Care Hospice, 702-B Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19805; or to the Helen Graham Cancer Research Center, 4735 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19713.

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Zelda ‘Peg’ Tobin, retired nurse
Zelda M. “Peg” Tobin, RN, 90, of Milton, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 27, after a brief stay at Milford Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Tobin was born April 19, 1919, in Accident, Md., daughter of the late Harry Earl and Emma Hochstedler Speicher. She graduated from Greenwood High School and earned her RN at Delaware Division in Wilmington, where she met her future husband, Thomas J. Tobin, MD.
In 1947, she and Dr. Tobin established a family medical practice and served the Milton community for many years before her husband’s death in 1964. Mrs. Tobin went on to serve Delaware residents throughout Sussex County as a public health nurse for 16 years. She was assigned to the Edward W. Pyle Service Center in Roxana when it opened in 1974 and served as the principal nurse there until she retired in 1982. She was a proud resident of Milton for more than 60 years.
She was active in the community throughout her life. She served in the Milton PTA when her children were in school, worked with Little League and the Brownies, and participated in many other community activities. She served as a volunteer at Casa San Francisco after her retirement and continued taking blood pressures well into her 80s. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, Milford for 60 years. She was absolutely devoted to her family, children and granddaughter, Mei.
Her interests were varied. She was a skilled musician and played the accordion and piano by ear. In the late 1930s she played locally and won a regional competition on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour on NBC and CBS, American radio’s best-known talent show, and went to New York City for a national competition. She knitted and crocheted afghans. She loved china painting. Her hand-painted Christmas ornaments will be cherished by family and friends for years to come. She was a talented artist and painted many watercolor and oil paintings. She loved her home and the squirrels and birds (especially bluebirds) that she watched daily. She may have been happiest when gardening, an activity she pursued into her 80s. She enjoyed traveling. She went to Bermuda and Hawaii with her dear friend, Eleanor Rae Campbell Warrington. For her 80th birthday, her son Tom took her to France. In addition to her parents and husband, four brothers, Robert, Randall, Howard and Everett Speicher, and a sister, Iva Clendaniel, all from the Greenwood-Bridgeville area, preceded her in death.
She is survived by four children: son, Thomas J. Tobin Jr. and wife Aileen W. Tobin, PhD, of Baltimore, Md., daughter, Margaret A. Tobin of Philadelphia, son, Patrick M. Tobin of Hoboken, N.J., and son, John E. Tobin and wife the Hon. Rev. Elisa C. Diller; and granddaughter Mei Xuan Tobin of Newark.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal St., Milton, where friends may call after 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Zelda M. “Peg” Tobin to Bayhealth Foundation, 640 South State St., Dover, DE 19901, for the Bayhealth Medical Center Healthcare Scholarship Program. Donations will be used to provide financial assistance to individuals pursuing nursing or allied health education in Zelda M. “Peg” Tobin’s name.

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Nancy R. White, retired businesswoman
Nancy R. White, 74, of Lewes, passed away at her residence Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, after a courageous five-year battle with ovarian cancer. A graduate of Mount Pleasant High School and the University of Delaware, she began her career as an elementary school teacher in Middletown. After retiring from teaching, she explored a variety of occupations, ending with the creation of her own business, Monograms and More in Havre de Grace, Md. Nancy was predeceased by her mother, Nancy R. Gallagher, formerly of Hauces Point, Md.; her father, Horace J. Samples, formerly of Havre de Grace; and her son, Steven K. Scheet, formerly of Newark. She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Scheet D’Onofrio of Newark; her sister, Patricia S. Kelley of Lewes; her brother, John L. Gallagher and his wife Denise Seliskar of Lewes; her aunt, Jean Labaree and her husband Benjamin of Philadelphia, Pa.; three granddaughters, Kelley R. D’Onofrio of New Castle, Laura D. D’Onofrio of Newark and Melissa R. Scheet of Bear; as well as her beloved great-grandson Michael S. McKinney of New Castle; and numerous loving nieces and nephews and their children. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, at The Grace Church, 514 Union St., Milton, with a luncheon immediately following. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome contributions to the Tunnell Cancer Center, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958; or to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.