Dorothy M. Hamstead's Obituary
Dorothy M. Hamstead, 80 of Georgetown, lovingly known as Dottie by family and friends, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, Delaware after a short bout of cirrhosis and cancer.
Dottie was born in Norfolk, Virginia on March 5, 1930. Prior to her death, she lived in her home on Seashore Highway next to the market (Elmer's Market) that she and her late husband, John A. Hamstead, owned and operated together since 1978 when it was first built. They took over running the family business in Greenwood in the mid-sixties when John's parents' health started failing. They were well known for their creation of The Pumpkin People and Christmas Shoppe along with the wonderful array of fresh fruits and vegetables and beautiful flowers they both poured their love into from early spring to the first of each New Year. John would create the characters of The Pumpkin People and Dottie would paint their pumpkin faces and together they clothed them. She ran the market after John passed away in May of 2009 until it closed the end of October.
Dottie was not only preceded in death by her husband John, but also her first born daughter, Barbara Faye Brown, age 11; and a brother, William R. Shipp, Jr. of Tennessee. She is survived by four sisters: Teeny Blake of Virginia Beach, VA; Peggy Brabec, of Drayden, MD; Linda Rathbun of Wyoming, MI; and Faye Nichols of Coons Rapids, MN; five children: R. Carol Hansen, of Georgetown, DE; L. Dianne Bolyard of Walnut Bottom, PA; Reginald H. (Buddy) Brown, Jr., of Lincoln, DE; Michael A. (Tony) Brown of Greenwood, DE; and John J. Hamstead, of Greenwood, DE; 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Todd's Chapel at the corner of Todd's Chapel Road and Hickman Road, Greenwood, DE on Friday September 24, 2010 at 2:00 PM where friends may call from noon until time of services. Interment will be at St. Johnstown Cemetery in Greenwood, Delaware.
At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriot Way, Milford, Delaware 19963.
Arrangements provided by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Hardesty Chapel, Bridgeville, DE
Sign the online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com
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