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Frances J. Fritchman,
Smyrna social worker
Frances J. “Sunny” Fritchman, 64, of Smyrna, died Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005, in the home of her son, William, in Chesapeake City, Md., surrounded by her family, including her “German daughter” Ariane.
Mrs. Fritchman was born June 21, 1941, in Newark, daughter of the late Richard I. and Frances Fechner Roberts.
She was a social worker for several years, most recently with Phoenix Mental Health in Dover.
In her earlier years, Mrs. Fritchman played the piano for Ewell’s St. Paul United Methodist Church in Clayton.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Curtis Fritchman in 1993.
She is survived by two sons, William H. Tidaback IV of Chesapeake City and Todd A. Fritchman of Rehoboth Beach; three daughters, Carole Sue Carpenter of Elkton, Md., Jamie C. Fritchman at home and Amy L. Fritchman of Smyrna; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
Services were held in the Faries Funeral Home, Smyrna, with burial in Odd Fellows cemetery , Smyrna.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Faries Funeral Chapel, 29 S. Main St., Smyrna.
Contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 92 Reads Way, Suite 205, New Castle DE 19720.
William John Rattenni,
decorated veteran
William John “Billy” Rattenni, 46, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005, surrounded by his family and friends.
Born in Wilmington, Bill was the son of Carlo Rattenni and the late Ruth (Booker) Rattenni. After graduating from Brandywine High School in 1977, he joined the US Navy. He was awarded the Air Medal with Gold Star for his actions of Oct. 28, 1978 as documented in the book, “Adak – The Rescue of Alfa Foxtrot 586.” He graduated from Widener University in 1983. Bill was co-owner of the East End CaféÈ in Newark. Before his illness, he was a contract manager for the state of Delaware Department of Labor. His memberships included St. John the Beloved Church, St. Anthony of Padua Church, the Prince of Piedmont Lodge, the St. Anthony’s Club and the Knights of Columbus Council #11796. An active volunteer, Bill coached for Capitol Little League and Namaans Little League, and helped with the Piedmont Little League. He also coached flag football at the YMCA and assisted with the St. John’s carnival and with activities at his children’s schools. He will be remembered as an outstanding husband, father, son and brother, who lived life to the fullest.
He will be dearly missed by his wife of 15 years, Jane (Jefferson) Rattenni; his children, Joseph, Nicholas and Olivia, all at home; his father, Carlo, of Rehoboth Beach; and his sisters and brothers-in-law, Karla and Steve Williams of Lewes and Karen and George Tutlane of Rehoboth Beach. Also surviving are six nieces and nephews, Kevin, Pete, Kris, Amy, Matt and Andy; four great nieces and nephews, Kaitlyn, Ben, Ryan and Dylan; other beloved family and friends.
Bill’s family would like to offer a special thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of the Helen F. Graham Center and Delaware Hospice for their wonderful and compassionate care.
A Mass of Christian burial was held at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 9th and Dupont Streets, Wilmington, with burial in Cathedral cemetery
in Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Rattenni Children Education Fund, c/o PNC Bank, Midway Office, 4725 Kirkwood Hwy. Wilmington, DE 19808.
Dorothy Vivian Lockwood Rankin,
substitute teacher
Dorothy Vivian Lockwood Rankin, 86, of Milford, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005 in Milford Center, Genesis Eldercare.
Mrs. Rankin was born Aug. 1, 1919 in Ashland, Ky., the daughter of the late Ike and Jenka (Kennedy) Lockwood.
Dorothy was a substitute teacher for the Milford School District for 15 years and during World War II she made artillery shells for Clayton-Lambert in Kentucky. She was a dedicated homemaker, mother and grandmother.
She was an active member of Avenue Methodist Church in Milford and the Milford Senior Center. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She loved to travel and loved all sorts of crafts. She especially enjoyed displaying her crafts at the Church Christmas Bazaar. She was an avid reader of mysteries.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Marion Rankin in 1991 and two brothers Barry Lockwood and H. Lee “Buck” Lockwood.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law David and Myra Rankin of Angola; two brothers George Lockwood of Williamstown, Ky.; and Quentin Lockwood of Ashland, Ky.; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at the Lofland Funeral Home, 102 Lakeview Avenue, Milford, where friends may call after 1 p.m., with burial will be in Milford Community cemetery , Milford.
Ann Hall Valliant Carvel,
late governor’s wife
Ann Hall Valliant Carvel, 99, of Laurel, died Monday, Oct. 24, 2005, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford.
Born in Church Hill, Md., she was a daughter of the late E. S. and Nellie Hall Valliant.
Mrs. Carvel was a longtime member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Laurel. She was a proud homemaker who was very talented with her handiwork; enjoying needlepoint, embroidery, crewelwork and smocking. The clothing and sweaters she made for her children and grandchildren were special to her. She enjoyed spending time with family and was a Den Mother for the Laurel Cub Scout Pack in the 1940s. She was an accomplished pianist and was fond of the Steinway baby grand piano that was purchased many years ago. She was very active with the American Cancer Society and led the cancer fundraising in Laurel. She and her husband, former Governor of Delaware, Elbert N. Carvel, loved spending time at the family farm on the Chesapeake Bay on Kent Island, always looking forward to the 4th of July celebrations with all of her family at the farm. Her love of photography captured many of these family memories.
She is survived by three daughters, Elizabeth “Betty” Carvel Palmer, and her husband Charles, of Millville, Barbara Carvel Krahn of Newark, and Ann Hall House, and her husband David, of Baltimore, Md.; a son, Edwin Valliant Carvel of San Francisco, Ca.; a brother, James W. Valliant of Centreville, Md.; six grandchildren, Lisa Palmer, Drew Palmer, Daphne Soroka, Brooke Palmer, Dylan Palmer, and Beatrice Saviola-Wheeler; and eight great-grandchildren, Heather, Leslie, and Katelyn Palmer, Phoebe and Desmond Soroka, Lucy Bull, John Parker Valliant Wheeler and Patrick Christian Carvel Wheeler.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, the former governor Elbert N. Carvel; a brother, Edwin Stephens Valliant Jr.; and three sisters, Peggy Foreman, Mildred Valliant and Mary Crowther.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Christ Episcopal Church, Stevensville, Md. The Rev. David Green will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to The American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, P.O. Box 767, Wilmington, DE 19899.
Arrangements are being handled by Short Funeral Home of Laurel.
Ronald J. Simpler,
Rehoboth salesman
Ronald John Simpler, 28, of Millsboro, died suddenly of a thoracic aorta aneurysm as he was leaving work in Rehoboth Beach Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005. He was pronounced at the Beebe Medical Center in Lewes.
He was born in Washington, D.C. and was a salesman for Kitchen Collections in Rehoboth Beach.
He is survived by his father, with whom he lived, Ronald J. Simpler Sr.; his mother, Mary E. Rutherford; half-brother, John; and half-sister, Kelly.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, at the chapel of Melson Funeral Services on Long Neck road in Long Neck.
Interment will be private.
To help defray the cost of funeral arrangements, the family has suggested in lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to the funeral home.
Dorothy Agnes Gribbins,
loving mother, wife
Dorothy Agnes Gribbins, 58, of Dover died Friday, Oct. 28, 2005, in Christiana Hospital, Christiana.
She was born May 15, 1947, in Marcus Hook, Pa., daughter of the late George Stockman and Marie Dolan.
Mrs. Gribbins was a loving mother and wife for 37 years. She was always a dear friend with an open heart to everyone she met and will always be remembered by her giving spirit and generous soul.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, George Stockman Jr., John Stockman and Hal Stockman.
She is survived by her husband, David Gribbins of Dover; two daughters, Danielle Oakes of Virginia and Wiebke Scantick of Stanton; a son and his fiancéÈ, David R. Gribbins and Tiasia Fischer of Lewes; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Diane and Francis Ferguson of Baton Rouge, La. and Frances Howarth of Pennsylvania; a sister-in-law and her husband, Tibor and Anna Nagy; three nieces, Georganna Engle, Yvonne Pleasanton and Tess; five nephews, Mark Ferguson, John Ferguson, Patrick Blair, James Blair and David Nagy; five grandchildren, Arysse Catlin, Russell Gribbins, Chaise Andrae, Demi Andrae and Christian Belle; a host of great-nieces, nephews and cousins; a sister and a brother in spirit, Margaret and Lawrence Fisher; and many other special friends.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, in the Bennie Smith Funeral Home, 717 W. Division St., Dover. Burial will be private.
Esther Brittingham Givens,
retired from FSCAA
Esther Brittingham Givens, 69, of Georgetown died of heart failure Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005, in her home.
Mrs. Givens was born Dec. 17, 1935, in Lewes. She was a retired deputy director for First State Community Action Agency.
Mrs. Givens was a member of John Wesley United Methodist Church, Belltown.
She is survived by two sisters, Amelia Brittingham and Gertrude Harmon, both of Lewes; five daughters, Judith Cannon of Lewes, Samette Hitchens and Lisa Givens, both of Georgetown, Carla Shockley of Delmar and Bonita Givens of Georgetown; two sons, Reginald Givens of Riverdale, Ga., and Samuel Givens Jr. of Savannah, Ga.; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Elnora Brown of Warton, Md.; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, in John Wesley United Methodist Church, Belltown, where friends may call two hours earlier. Burial will be in People’s cemetery , Lewes.
Arrangements by Young’s Funeral Home, Milford.
Norman W.T. Henry Sr.,
Perdue mechanic
Norman W.T. Henry Sr., 61, of Lincoln died of natural causes Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005, in his home.
He was born Mar. 28, 1944, in Lincoln. Mr. Henry was a mechanic at Perdue.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wallace Henry; his grandparents, Hurley and Hattie Henry; a brother, Delbert Henry Sr.; a son, Tennile Allen; and a brother-in-law, Wardell Allen Sr.
He is survived by his wife, Lillie Henry of Milford; three daughters Louella “Shawana” Henry of Milford, Sarina Harris of Dover and Angie of Florida; six sons and two daughters-in-law, Brian Allen of Illinois, Nathaniel and Chiquita Allen, Don “Donnie” Henry, Jerry and Dawn Smith, all of Milford, Norman Henry Jr. of Lincoln and Norman Fisher of Dover; his mother, Dorothy Cubbage of Dover; five brothers and a sister-in-law, Roger Henry of Lincoln, Phillip and Lavern Cubbage of Dover, Thomas Cubbage and Joseph Cubbage, all of Dover and Gerald Hood of Rehoboth Beach; two sisters, Sarah Cubbage and Evelyn Cubbage, both of Dover; two sisters-in-law, Donna Cartwright of Richmond, Va., and Irene Allen of Lincoln; a brother-in-law, John Allen of Lincoln; four special godchildren, Ivory Burton, Rufus Lewis, Jerome Mullen and Oneida Mullen, all of Milford; a granddaughter, Charriah Waters of Milford; and five aunts, Louella Baines of Ellendale, Gladys Vann of North Carolina, Catherine Warren of Milford, Lorraine Williams and Marion Witherton, both of Pennsylvania.
Services will be held at noon Wednesday, Nov. 2, in Calvary Pentecostal Church, Slaughter Neck, where friends may call two hours earlier. Burial will be in Old Hickory cemetery , Slaughter Neck.
Arrangements by Young’s Funeral Home, Seaford.
Mildred ‘Jane’ S. Walter,
Sussex homemaker
Mildred “Jane” Stubbs Walter, 66, of Millville, died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005, at Harbor Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, Lewes.
She was born in Milford, the daughter of the late Paul and Mildred Carlisle Stubbs. She was a homemaker and member of the Seaford Chapter of Moose Lodge 1384.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Bobby P. Stubbs; a sister, Alice Faye Gandil; and a grandson, Franklin D. Stubbs II.
She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Jehu Walter; two sons, Franklin Stubbs and his wife, Sherrie, of Dagsboro, and Charles L. Truitt Jr. and his wife, Julie, of Georgetown; a stepdaughter, Cindy Blades and her husband, JR, of Dagsboro; three brothers, Joe Stubbs of Georgetown and Eddie and Bill Stubbs of Topeka, Ks.; four grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-granddaughter; her faithful companion, Bear-Bear; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 4, at the chapel of Melson Funeral Services, Thatcher Street, Frankford, where friends may call after 10 a.m. Burial will be in St. George’s cemetery , Clarksville.
The family suggested donations by made to help defray funeral expenses and mailed to Cindy Blades, 29397 Holds Landing Rd., Dagsboro DE 19939.
Wayne A. McMaster,
former Merchant Marine
Wayne Allen McMaster, 52, of Rehoboth Beach, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, after a long illness.
He was born and raised in Boothwyn, Pa., son of the late Joseph and Dorothy Price McMaster. He was a member of the Reliance Fire Company in Boothwyn, Pa. After graduating from Chichester High School in 1972, he joined the Merchant Marines, working as a seaman for the Sun Oil Co. of Marcus Hook, Pa. For the past 28 years he lived in Rehoboth Beach, where he had been disabled for some time.
He is survived by his sister, Joanne James and husband, Lou, of Milton; three brothers, Larry McMaster and wife, Dee, James “Tick” McMaster and Dennis Keith McMaster and wife, Donna, all of Boothwyn, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews.
Private graveside services will be held Saturday, April 8, at Lawncroft cemetery , Linwood, Pa.
The family requests donations be made to Beebe Medical Center, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
Barbara A. Truitt,
DMSF secretary
Barbara A. Truitt, 70, of Frankford, died Wednesday, March 29, 2006, at her home.
She was a homemaker. Mrs. Truitt was born Dec. 18, 1935, to the late Calvin and Lottie Jones Hudson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Dewitt Truitt, in 1971 and a daughter, Donna in 2002.
She was a member and secretary of the Delaware Mobile Surf Fisherman. She was also a member of Frankford United Methodist Church.
Barbara leaves behind two children, Jesse W. Truitt III and his wife Terry, Donald Lee Truitt and his wife Beverly; and four grandchildren, Brittany, Blakelyn, Travis and Gavin.
Services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 1, at the Frankford Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, Thatcher Street, Frankford, where friends and family may call after noon. Burial will be in Millsboro cemetery.
Flowers are acceptable or memorial contributions to Frankford United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 37, Frankford, DE 19945.
Mary M. Hillman,
retired nurse
Mary M. Hillman, 86, of Lewes, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at her residence.
Ms. Hillman was born Sept. 10, 1919 in Wilmington, daughter of the late Harvey and Alice Doyle Hillman.
Ms. Hillman was employed as a registered nurse for 23 years retiring in 1980. She then worked for several years as a teacher with the Wilmington Board of Education. She was a member of St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and she volunteered with Delaware Hospice.
She is survived by one nephew, Harvey Hillman of Wilmington.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, April 3, 11 a.m., at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church on Route 1 just north of Five Points, Lewes, with Father Raymond Forrester officiating. Interment will follow at St. Peter’s cemetery-Pilottown Road, Lewes.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
Please omit flowers; contributions may be made to a charity of choice.
