Hope C. Tyler's Obituary
Hope C. (Rowlings) Tyler, age 72, died Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Harbor Healthcare, Lewes, DE. She was born in Philadelphia, PA on October 16, 1942, daughter of the late Edward F. and Edythe (McFadden) Rowlings.
She was a wonderful mother, a loving grandmother and for more than 53 years was the best friend of her husband Michael. She loved Lewes and was a familiar friendly supporter of her adopted town. A victim of dementia that robbed her of her beautiful smile and willingness to help and be involved in her community, she will be long loved and remembered for her volunteering at Lewes Public Library and for her daily walks into town and to the city beach.
Hope, a Philadelphia native, moved to Delaware nearly 50 years ago. She graduated from St. Basil Academy, Jenkintown, Pa. in 1960. She also studied at the University of Delaware. She was a staff member for Governor Pete DuPont and later served on Governor Michael Castle’s staff and spent ten years as director of the Governor's School for Excellence, a college preparatory program for gifted and talented Delaware high school students.
Upon moving to Lewes in 1991, she and her husband operated Wild Swan Inn, an award-winning Victorian Bed and Breakfast through 2000 when they moved to their present home in Lewes in Drake Knoll. She served for eight years as president of the Friends of Lewes Public Library and for many years was the Library’s coordinator for community displays for the Lewes Library showcase window. One of her greatest achievements was initiating the republishing of a long out-of-print popular historical account of the War of 1812 “Cornstalks and Cannonballs,” a story for young readers by Delaware author Barbara Mitchell. She oversaw the book’s production and managed the distribution and sales of the book which was a key fund raiser for the library. She was named Library volunteer of the year by the Friends in 2010. She had been a library volunteer since 1992
She was co-chairwoman of the Christmas Tour of Lewes for the many years, securing homes for the tour, preparing the ticket booklet and overseeing what has become one of the Lewes Historical Society’s most popular fundraising events. She served as a docent at the Rabbits Ferry House on the Lewes Historic Complex.
Hope is a former member of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and worked as a judge at the annual Kite Festival for more than a dozen years. She also served as a volunteer at Shield’s Elementary School where she was a mentor in the school’s academic structured student Hosts Program.
She worked for more than a decade as a co-leader for the Lighthouse Chapter of The Compassionate Friends, a support organization assisting families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age.
Hope was preceded in death by her oldest son, Michael Edward in 1997. She is survived by Michael, her husband of more than 53 years; three children: Karen of Eugene, OR; Chris and his wife Jackie of Aspen CO and Laura Goodwin and her husband Randy of Gotha, FL; seven grandchildren and a younger brother Ed Rowlings and his wife Cyndee of Bakersfield, CA.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at 11 AM at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, where friends may visit beginning at 10 AM. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Beebe Hospital’s Gull House, 38149 Terrace Rd, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, Delaware Alzheimer’s Association, P. O. Box 625, Georgetown, DE 19947 or the Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Avenue, Lewes, DE 19958.
Please visit Hope's Life Memorial webpage and sign her online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
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