Robert T. Eldridge
Born: 2/23/1926
Died: 10/25/2002
Services will be held at: Memorial service will be held at a later date.
Robert T. Eldridge, age 76, of Willow Valley Lakes Manor in Willow Street, PA, formerly of Wilmington, DE, died Friday, October 25, 2002 after a short illness. Mr. Eldridge, a native of Morrisville, PA, graduated from Mercersburg Academy in 1943, enlisted in the Navy and was commissioned in 1945. His last service assignment was executive officer of LCI-738 (Landing Craft Infantry). Mr. Eldridge graduated from the Pennsylvania State College School of Journalism in 1948, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Delta Chi (honorary journalism fraternity). He joined the Eldridge-Northrop advertising agency, and in 1950 became advertising manager of the Baldwin-Hill Company in Trenton, NJ, a thermal insulation manufacturer. In 1955, Mr. Eldridge joined the DuPont Company's advertising department, where he served 28 years in advertising and promotional capacities for the Polychemicals, Film, Freon Products, Explosives, Fabrics and Finishes, Polymer Intermediates and Photo Products. Retiring from DuPont in 1984, he started his own advertising agency serving such accounts as Yachting Tableware, Ametek Microfoam and DuPont. He served in various administrative and teaching capacities in the Wilmington Power Squadron and enjoyed both sail and power boating. He participated in fitness training at the YMCA. He was a member of the West Willow United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lois Q.; two sons, Richard of Swarthmore, PA and Robert Jr. of Decatur, GA; and 3 grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 1002, Wilmington, DE 19801 or to the American Cancer Society, 92 Read's Way, New Castle, DE 19720.

Pauline M. Miller
Born: 9/11/1916
Died: 10/29/2002
Services will be held at: Mass of Christian Burial at the VA Hospital Chapel, Saturday November 2 at 11:00 am
Visitation times are: Mass of Christian Burial at the VA Hospital Chapel, Saturday November 2 at 10:30 am
Pauline Juliano Miller died October 29, 2002 at the Brandywine Nursing Home at age 86. Mrs. Miller was a member of the DAV Auxiliary and was a VA Hospital volunteer for over 40 years. Mrs. Miller is survived by a son, Joseph and his wife, Eleanor; 3 grandsons; 6 great grandchildren and a sister, Lucille Catalino. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the VA Hospital Chapel, Kirkwood Highway, Elsmere on Saturday November 2 at 11:00 am where friends may call at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests as a tribute to Pauline to take your family out to dinner.

Billy Rucker
Born: 4/14/1930
Died: 10/21/2002
Services will be held at: Gracelawn Memorial Chapel, October 25, 2002 at 11:45 am
Visitation times are: Chandler Funeral Home, Hockessin, October 24, 2002 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Billy L. Rucker, age 72, of New Castle, Delaware passed away on Monday, October 21, 2002 at home. Billy was born in Meadow Creek, West Virginia on April 14, 1930 to the late Fleta and Elza Rucker. He moved to Delaware in 1948 and retired from General Motors in 1978 after 30 years of service. He then owned C. Rucker Roofing for 15 years. Billy enjoyed going to flea markets and auctions. He was always looking for tools, antiques and musical instruments, often with his nephew Darrell Rucker. He especially liked being “down home” in West Virginia and going to the Pence Springs Flea Market. Billy is survived by his wife, Clemmie of 45 years; his son and daughter in law, Larry and JoAnn Rucker of Newark; four daughters and sons in law, Carolyn and Anthony Barone of Wilmington, Linda Evans of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Sharon and Richard Mullen of Landenberg and Debi Rucker and Lou Geanopulos of Wilmington; nine grandchildren, six great grandchildren; three sisters, Lorene Rucker of Rupert, WV, Oleta Crump of Inverness, FL, Edna Richmond of Leslie, WV and one brother, Eugene Rucker of Columbus, OH. Relatives and friends are invited to join Billy’s family at CHANDLER FUNERAL HOME, 7230 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday October 24. A service will be held at the Gracelawn Chapel at 11:45 on Friday October 25, 2002. Interment will be in the adjoining cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the ALS Association, Philadelphia Chapter, 500 Office Center Dr., Suite 340, Fort Washington, PA 19034 or Delaware Hospice, 3515 Silverside Rd., Wilmington, DE 19810.

Ann Layton Scott
Born: 4/17/1916
Died: 10/21/2002
Services will be held at: Private at a later date
Ann Layton Scott died on October 21, 2002 after a long illness. She was born in Wilmington on April 17, 1916, the daughter of Helene Mustard and Caleb S. Layton. She attended schools in Belgium, the Miss Hebbs School, Tower Hill, and graduated from Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut. Mrs. Scott was pre-deceased by her sister, Virginia L. Orr; her brother, Rodney M. Layton; and her first husband, Thomas McF. Skelly who was killed in action in Europe in March 1945. Survivors include a daughter, Ann T. Skelly of Rehoboth, DE and son, Thomas McF. Skelly, Jr. of West Palm Beach, FL. In February 1947, she married Harlan Scott of Wilmington and is survived by three sons, H. Rodney Scott of Wilmington; Caleb L. Scott of Tinmouth, VT and Halsey K. Scott of Crozet, VA; 15 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Scott was very interested in the arts. For many years, she was active in the Wilmington Studio Group and the Rehoboth Art League. She taught lessons in both crewel embroidery and découpage, and produced many fine works in needlepoint. A former member of the Wilmington Garden Club, in her latter years she continued to be an avid gardener at her homes in Wilmington and Rehoboth and with civic beautification projects. A private funeral will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Delaware Hospice, 3515 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19810 or Westover School.

Jeanne Pyle
Born: 9/1/1923
Died: 12/12/2002
Services will be held at: Memorial Service at Chandler Funeral Home on Friday December 27 at 11:00 am.
Jeanne A. Pyle (McKenna), age 79, of Talleyville & Claymont, formerly of Malvern, PA (1954-74), died December 12, 2002 after a three year residence at Shipley Manor. She was born in Philadelphia, PA on September 1, 1923. Daughter of the late Alice J. Fretz and Anthony McKenna. She was retired from the Materials & Logistics Department of the DuPont Company. She also worked for a number of years at Immaculatta College. She is survived by 2 sons, E. Robert Pyle of Wilmington, DE and Stephen J. Pyle of Hernando, MS and a daughter, Carol Pyle Mallett of Ashville, NC. There are 4 grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at CHANDLER FUNERAL HOME, 2506 Concord Pike, Sharpley, on Friday, December 27, 2002 at 11:00. Interment will be private.

Ronald Lee Simkins
Born: 2/2/1962
Died: 12/7/2002
Services will be held at: Bethel Baptist Church, December 14, 2002 at 11:00 am
RONALD LEE “Ronnie” SIMKINS of Winterset Farms died at home on Saturday, December 7 of natural causes at age 40. Mr. Simkins was a 1980 graduate of Concord High School. He graduated from Delaware Technical and Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Accounting. In 1987 he was in a serious automobile collision, from which he suffered continuously ever since. Ronnie served Youth For Christ at the Dave Tiberi Center, where he was a counselor, later becoming Director. In 2002 he moved to the Delaware Office of Youth for Christ where he became Director of Procurement until his death. He became a member of Bethel Baptist Church in 1993. He was an avid football fan, and was an outdoor enthusiast, particularly deep sea fishing. He is survived by his brothers, Frank Albert Simkins III of Brookhaven PA, Steven Randall Simkins of Coopersburg PA, and Wayne Harvey Simkins of Pittsburgh PA. Friends are welcome to his memorial service in Bethel Baptist Church, 1217 Wilson Road, Wilmington on Saturday morning, December 14 at 11. You are also welcome to call on his family in Bethel Baptist Church on Saturday morning from 10-11. Interment will be private. In place of flowers the family suggests a contribution to Bethel Baptist Church, with a notation designating the Ronald Simkins Fund, 1217 Wilson Road, Wilmington DE 19803.

Charlotte Berner
Born: 4/7/1911
Died: 12/6/2002
Services will be held at: December 11, 2002 at 10:00 am at Chandler Funeral Home
Charlotte Berner, age 91, passed away Friday, December 6, 2002. She was born and raised in New York City and lived there for 83 years, then moved to Delaware to be with her daughter and family 8 years ago. She is survived by her daughter, Charlotte and her husband, Harold Hublein; granddaughter, Candyce; grandson, Bradley; and 2 great granddaughters, Paige Marie and Alexis Lyn. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 11 at 10 am at the Chandler Funeral Home, 7230 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, where friends may call from 7 to 9 pm on Tuesday evening. Interment will be in the Lower Brandywine Cemetery.

Elizabeth Purnell Daddow
Born: 9/26/1906
Died: 12/3/2002
Services will be held at:
Elizabeth Purnell Daddow, age 96, died at Cokesbury Village in Hockessin, DE on Tuesday, December 3. Mrs. Daddow was employed as a secretary in the former advertising department of the DuPont Company. She retired in 1972 after 40 years of service. Her husband of ten years, Wilbur T. Daddow, died in 1995. She is survived by her step-daughters, Jean Paulsen of Tulsa, OK, Nancy Gemmell of Wilmington, DE and their families. Entombment will be private. There will be a memorial service at Cokesbury Village Chapel at a later date. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Cokesbury Village Benevolence Fund, 726 Loveville Road, Hockessin, DE 19707.

Anna K. Dische
Born: 7/18/1922
Died: 12/3/2002
Services will be held at:
Visitation times are:
Anna K. Dische (Sanders), age 80, died Tuesday, December 3. She is survived by her daughter, Deanna Sanders Akre of Hume, VA and two sons, Paul J. Sanders of Avondale, PA and Arthur C. Sanders of Laurel, MD. Her third son, Thomas E. Sanders died in December 1998. In 1942, she married Thomas Dewitt Sanders in Waynesboro, VA and had her four children between 1942 and 1950. Thomas D. Sanders passed away in October 1950. Anna remarried in June 1969 to Louis E. Dische in Wilmington, DE. Mr. Dische died in 1997. Friends may call on Friday evening, December 6 at the Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Sharpley from 7 to 9 pm.

William Vandegrift, Jr.
Born: March 14, 1925
Died: April 19, 2003
Services will be held at: Presbyterian Church of the Covenant April 24 at 11:00
Visitation times are: Chandler Funeral Home April 23 from 7:00 to 9:00
William Vandegrift, Jr. "Bill", age 78, a resident of Wilmington since 1950, passed away at his home on April 19, 2003 after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in West Chester, PA in 1925 to William and Mary Vandergrift. He graduated from West Chester HS in 1942, West Chester College in 1946. After teaching for 1 year in PA, he moved to PS duPont HS in 1947 and taught there until 1970. While at PS duPont, he coached track, swimming and basketball. From 1970 until his retirementi in 1985, he taught math at Stanton Middle School. During his teaching career, he also managed Valleybrook Golf Range for 11 years. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Rock Manor Golf Club. Bill pursued many hobbies, including target shooting, reading, traveling, bridge and woodworking. He especially enjoyed volunteering for "Meals on Wheels" and spending time with his family. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. He is survived by his wife of 53 yars Ethel R. Vandegrift; 4 children and their spouses, Scott and Debbie, Rick and Janna, David and Susan, Patty and Bob Smagala; 9 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. Memorial service willb e held at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, on Thursday April 24 at 11:00 am. Interment willbe private. Friends may call from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike on Wednesday evening. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice, 3515 Silverside Road, Wilm 19810 or Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 503 Duncan Rd, Wilm 19809.