Virginia Marie Hambley Dennis, venerable teacher
Virginia Marie Hambley Dennis, 95, of Rehoboth Beach passed away Friday, July 17, 2020, of natural causes, surrounded by her family. She was born April 24, 1925, in Staten Island, N.Y., daughter of the late James and Catherine (Mordaunt) Hambley.
Virginia grew up on Staten Island, where she met Olin at a veterans hospital. Olin was recovering from wounds sustained in WWII. They were wed and moved to the farm in Delmar, Md., with the Dennis family. Several years later, they moved to Lewes. During the 1950s, Virginia began teaching kindergarten at the Children’s Beach House. She later moved on to become the first kindergarten teacher at West Rehoboth Elementary School, thus establishing the kindergarten program. After Olin's health failed in the mid-‘60s, Virginia attended night school while teaching and raising her family, earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware. Virginia retired from Rehoboth Elementary School and Cape Henlopen School District. Both her daughters and a granddaughter followed in her footsteps, becoming teachers.
Virginia's highest priority was family. The love of family was shared while getting together for holidays, weddings, family gatherings and other celebrations. There are many tales of summers at the beach, weekends and nights on the back porch, or in the back yard playing horseshoes, sipping on a cold drink around the dining room table, riding big wheels or playing ping pong in the basement, or just relaxing and enjoying the love of family. There was always room for one more at the table.
Virginia spent the last few years sharing time with the loving staff at Brandywine Assisted Living at Seaside Pointe in Rehoboth Beach.
In addition to her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Olin Woodrow Dennis; her daughter, Linda Marie Dillinger; and her daughter-in-law, Barbara Dennis. She is survived by her son-in-law, Monroe (Bub) Dillinger; her son, Woodrow Paul Dennis; her daughter, Deborah Louise Lawler (John); her son, James L. (J.L.) Dennis (Cheryl); her grandsons: Jeffrey Dillinger, John Lawler, Mathew Lawler and James William Olin Dennis; her granddaughters: Susan Miller (Bryan), Megan Poovey (Stephen) and Dawn Crouch; her great-granddaughter, Madison Lawler; and her great-grandson, Braden Miller.
A funeral service will be held Monday, July 27, at 3 p.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 2 p.m. Interment will immediately follow at Henlopen Memorial Park, 28787 Lockerman Road, Milton. Due to the dangers associated with the spread of COVID-19, all attendees shall wear a mask and maintain social distancing at all times while attending any aspect of the funeral services.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Virginia's memory to the Lewes Fire Dept. Inc., 347 E. Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.
Please visit Virginia's Life Memorial Webpage and sign her online guest book at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
