Obituaries

Sarah Dollie Hickman, 84, of Bayard, passed away Monday, March 10, 2008, at her home. She was a homemaker and poultry grower who loved entertaining people, gardening, canning, needlepoint and making crafts. She was a member of Roxana Wesleyan Church, Blue Hen Homemakers and the Order of the Eastern Star since 1958.

Fred W. Kahler Jr., 47, of Selbyville, Del., passed away Saturday, March 8, 2008, from complications of open heart surgery at PRMC in Salisbury, Md. He moved to Delaware in 1997, when he transferred to work with Verizon in Ocean View, Del. He loved spending time with his daughter Jordan, his family and friends, riding his Harley, boating, sunsets and NASCAR.

Norwood Lowe, 82, of Gumboro, passed away Monday, March 10, 2008, at his home. He was a lifelong farmer in the Gumboro area and, until recently, still actively farmed over 200 acres.

Elizabeth S. “Betty” Madara, 94, of Selbyville, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2008, at Berlin Nursing & Rehab Center, Berlin, Md. She wrote for many years for the Delmarva News and Wave newspapers. She was a member of Salem United Methodist Church in Selbyville and had sung in the choir for 40 years. She was a member of the Golden Age Luncheon Group and the Friendship Circle at Salem.

Carol D. Roberson, 66, of Selbyville, Del., formerly of Bowie, Md., passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at her home. She owned and operated Video 1 in Ocean Pines and Ocean City for more than 10 years and had worked for Freestate Volkswagen in Marlow Heights, Md., for a number of years. She was a member of the Bowie Colts Corral #31.

Jean E. Selway, 81, of Dagsboro, Del., formerly of North Wilmington, Del., passed away Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at home. She and her husband owned and operated the Salty Sands Motel in Ocean City, Md., for 20 years.

Gayle Derrickson-Steele, 60, of Dagsboro, Del., passed away Saturday, March 1, 2008, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, Md. She was a medical transcriptionist at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford, Del. She attended the Millville United Methodist Church, Millville, Del.

Joseph Tyson Smith, 92, of Roxana, Del., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008, at the Green Valley Nursing Home in Millsboro, Del. A World War II veteran, he served in Germany in the 88th Division “Blue Devils” Artillery.

Scott A. Mitchell, 44, of Frankford, Del., passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2008, in Georgetown, Del. He was a laborer for various construction businesses. He was an avid sportsman who was a kid at heart and enjoyed taking his children and nephew fishing and camping.

Dr. Wallace Oman Lecher Jr., 77, of Dagsboro, Del., passed away Friday, Feb. 29, 2008, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Md. A graduate of Amherst College and Hahnemann Medical College, he served his medical internship at the Hahnemann-Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., and his urology residency from 1957 to 1961.

Jesse Alan Gay, 20, of Millsboro, Del., passed away Friday, Feb. 29, 2008. He was a self-employed dog trainer and breeder of Staffordshire and bull terriers. He was a graduate of Delmarva Christian High School in Georgetown, Del., where he was voted Most Valuable basketball player and played lacrosse. He attended the Bay Shore Community Church in Gumboro, Del.

Charles O. Fitze Jr., 86, of Selbyville, Del., formerly of Baltimore, Md., passed away Saturday, March 1, 2008, at Atlantic General Hospital, Berlin, Md. He had been a supervisor for Church Hill Distributors for many years.

Haywood I. Buck Jr., 87, of near Georgetown, Del., passed away Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, at Genesis Seaford Center, Seaford, Del. He was an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union for many years. He was a member of the Dagsboro Gospel Fellowship Church in Dagsboro, Del., Franklin Masonic Lodge #12 A.F. & A.M.

Paul E. Widenor Jr., 86, of Millsboro, formerly of Queenstown, Md., passed away on Wednesday, June 20, 2007. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army and retired as an engineer for the Department of Defense. He was a member of the New Life Bible Fellowship Church in Millsboro and former member of the Kent Island United Methodist Church.

Ruth B. Tyre, 72, of Ocean View, Del., passed away peacefully Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her loving family. She was a fun-loving person who seemed to never meet a stranger and was family-oriented. She was content at being home because she enjoyed baking, sewing and keeping her home in perfect order.

Lois J. Tucker, 71, of Selbyville, Del., formerly of Columbia, Md., passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at the Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Md. She was a high school physical education teacher and also a cheerleading coach at Bowie High School for Prince George’s County, retiring in 1996 after 36 years of service.

Doris Revel Slate, 58, of Parsonsburg, Md., passed away Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, at home. She was a homemaker, a loving mother, grandmother and wife; she also loved her animals. She was a member of Emmanuel Wesleyan Church, Salisbury, Md.

William Oliphant, 81, of Millsboro, Del., passed away Friday, Feb. 22, 2008, in Harrison Senior Living in Georgetown, Del. He was a retired heavy equipment operator with Melvin Joseph Construction in Georgetown for many years. A United States Army veteran, he was a member of VFW Post 7422 in Millsboro.

Curtis William Mumford, 61, of Bishopville, Md., passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008. After graduating from the University of Baltimore with a degree in accounting, he opened a CPA office in Selbyville, Del. He truly loved his work as a CPA and was active in the business for 40 years, serving clients in Maryland and Delaware.

Mary E. (Nash) Mears, 86, of Georgetown, Del., passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at Harrison House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Georgetown. She was a member of Providence United Methodist Church and had led a very active life, endearing her to people all over Sussex County.

Annie Marie Johnson, 89, of Lewes, Del., passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at home. She was an elevator operator many years ago for the Pennsylvania School Board. She attended the Israel U.M. Church in Lewes and the Christ Church in Harbeson, Del., as well as being active with the Lewes Senior Citizens and an attendant at the Lewes CHEER Center.

William J. Elder Jr., 85, of Millsboro, Del., formerly of Secane, Pa., passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, at the Little Flower Manor Nursing Home in Darby, Pa. He was a Bell Telephone Installer, retiring in 1982 after 38 years of service. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Davis E. “Dave” Collins, 64, of Frankford, Del., passed away Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, at Coastal Hospice at the Lake, Salisbury, Md. He had worked for the Delaware Department of Corrections for 24 years as a correctional officer at Sussex Correctional Institute in Georgetown, Del., retiring in 2005. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Edward J. Chiasson, 68, of Selbyville, Del., passed away Friday, Feb. 22, 2008, at Coastal Hospice at the Lake, Salisbury, Md. He owned and was the operator of Sea-Lites in Selbyville since 1993.

Charles G. Scott Jr., 82, of Millsboro, Del., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Del. He was a retired heavy equipment operator. A hard working man, he worked until he was 80 years old. He loved horses and loved to help people take care of them.

Velma B. Schenk, 85, of Bethany Beach, Del., passed away Monday, Feb. 18, 2008, surrounded by her family. She worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Walter in Aberdeen, Md., for many years before retiring in the 1970’s. She and her husband then traveled extensively throughout Central and North America. They also owned and operated Lake Forest Campground in Deep Creek Lake, Md., for 20 years.

William A. Rutherford, 86, of Millsboro, Del., passed away Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, at home. He retired as a service foreman with Diamond State Telephone, now known as Verizon, after 40 years of service.

Joseph R. “Ray” Harding, 80, of Ocean View, Del., formerly of Upper Marlboro, Md., passed away Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at Harbor Health Care in Lewes, Del. He had been a supervisor for the C. & P. Telephone Co., retiring after 30 years of service. He was a member of the Fenwick Island Lions Club, the Ocean City Elks Club and the Telephone

Frederick E. “Fred” Hudson, 84, of Bishopville, Md., passed away Monday, Feb. 18, 2008, at Coastal Hospice at the Lake, Salisbury, Md. He had been a master carpenter, restoring homes for the Lewes Historical Society for more than 60 years. He was a member of the Millsboro VFW Post and a World War II U.S. Army veteran.

Dorothy A. Brown, 73, of Selbyville, Del., formerly of Midlothian, Va., passed away Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, at the Berlin Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Berlin, Md. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ocean City, Md. and the Women’s Club of The Keenwicks.