Mabel Hitchens' Obituary
Mabel Farring (O'Neal) Hitchens, age 98, of Bridgeville, DE died Tuesday, November 1, 2005, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford, DE. Mrs. Hitchens was born July 31, 1907 in Cannon, DE daughter of the late Charles Elwood and Nellie Ann (Wootten) O'Neal.
Mrs. Hitchens owned and operated school buses in lower Delaware for 75 years starting in 1930. She was a past president and the oldest member of a 48 year membership with the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary. She was also a former member of the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company's Ladies Auxiliary. She was a former officer and a member of the Delaware State Grange; a member of Cannon Grange #65 where she held many offices through the years. and had worked as a cook at the Bridgeville School Cafeteria and at the Bridgeville Tastee Freeze where she was known as "Mighty Mabel." She was also a member of Union United Methodist Church and was a loving and devoted Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Great-Great-Grandmother, and Mother-in-Law.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, H. Russell Hitchens, a daughter Dorothy Chaney, a grandson Russell Lee Chaney and two sisters, Mrytle O'Neal and Blanche Hastings. She is survived by two daughters, M. Louise Devone and her husband Jim of Seaford, DE and Carolyn Thomas and her husband John of Marydel, DE; ten grandchildren: Ronald Chaney & wife Betsy, Diana Chaney, Raymond Chaney & wife Jeanette, Mark Tyndall, Matt Thomas & wife Jean, Dawn Ivory & husband Dean, Andrew Thomas, Kimberly Tootell & husband Jared, Mark Thomas and Luke Thomas; nine great-grandchildren: Josh Chaney, Brooke Prouty, Caitlin Chaney, Damen Ivory, Summer Thomas, Hunter Thomas, Dunovan Ivory, Daphane Ivory and Dathan Ivory; one great-great-grandchild, Noah Chaney; two sisters, Lillie Elliott and Mae Carpenter, both of Seaford.
Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Hardesty Chapel, 202 Laws Street, Bridgeville, DE where the family will receive friends from 6-9 PM Friday, November 4, 2005. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 5, 2 PM at Union United Methodist Church, Laws & Market Streets, Bridgeville where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Rev. Gary Tulak and Rev. Al Taylor will be officiating. Interment will follow at Bridgeville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 727, Bridgeville, DE 19933 or to the Union United Methodist Church, Laws & Market Streets, Briedgeville, DE 19933.
Send online condolences to: [email protected].
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