William W. Dailey Jr., expert surveyor
William W. Dailey Jr. (Bill), 86, of Millsboro, formerly of Winterbury in Wilmington, passed away Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, following a short illness.
He was born in Newark, Aug. 8, 1929, to William W. Dailey Sr. and Rachael Brothers Dailey. The family moved to Wilmington and Bill graduated from A. I. Du Pont High School in 1948. He began his career at Vandemark and Lynch as a high school co-op and went on to become an owner of the company, where he worked for nearly 60 years.
Mr. Dailey had an extensive engineering and surveying background, through his education and service in the U.S. Army's Engineer Corps. He served his country in the Korean War and often said that he surveyed all of Korea.
At Vandemark and Lynch, he supervised field operations for the company, conducting legal research where necessary. He was recognized by courts as a legal expert in the field, and has given expert testimony.
His projects ranged from the Delaware Army and Air National Guard at the Greater Wilmington Airport, Dover Air Force Base, Sussex County Airport, Christiana Mall, Concord Mall and Brandywine Town Center.
For 15 years, he was an instructor at Delaware Technical Community College, Stanton Campus teaching seminars and classes on various aspects of surveying.
He served on numerous surveyor societies, including chair of the State of Delaware Board of Land Surveyors (1981-90). In 1993, the Delaware Association of Surveyors selected him as its Surveyor of the Year.
Aside from his service on many boards and committees related to surveyors, he was youth chairman, president and vice president of the Red Clay Kiwanis Club as well as a member and former officer in the Indian River Yacht Club. Following his retirement, he was nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve on the Public Integrity Commission.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Florence Myers Dailey, in September 2014. He was also predeceased by his two sisters, Pat Caruso and Caroline Farnan. He is survived by three nephews and their wives: Wayne and Elaine Manlove of Ocean View, Philip and Judy Caruso of New Castle, and Dominic and Faith Caruso of Bear; as well as many great-nieces and -nephews.
Visitation will be held at Mealey Funeral Home, 2509 Limestone Road. Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 6 until 8 p.m. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, Thursday, Sept. 10, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in All Saints' Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Mary Mother of Peace Church, 30839 Mount Joy Road, Millsboro, at a date to be announced shortly.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mr. Dailey's name to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963
