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MORNING STAR • APRIL 2 - 8, 2009
Obituaries Robert Franklin Stuart, 80
Retired Major Robert “Bob” Franklin Stuart of Bridgeville, departed this life on Saturday, March 21, 2009, after a long and courageous battle with several illnesses. At the time of his passing, Bob was at home in Tualatin, Ore. with his best friend and beloved wife of 54 years, the former Mary Hall, also from Bridgeville. A graduate of Bridgeville High School, Bob served as a sergeant in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from Robert Stuart 1948 to 1951. On Oct. 1, 1953, he was appointed to the Delaware State Police, assigned to Troop #5 in Bridgeville as a patrolman. Over the course of his 20 year career with the state police, Bob was promoted through the ranks until he retired third in command with the rank of major in July 1973. A finger print and photography expert, Major Stuart was responsible for the design and implementation of the first computerized online state wide information system (CLUES) for Delaware, embracing all police, court and correctional agencies in the state. Not content with retirement at age 42, he gave up his cop scanner, trading his gun for a pen and went to work as a planner for the Delaware Agency for the Reduction of Crime (DARC). Well respected statewide on both sides of the aisle, Bob was DARC’s goodwill liaison with both a sharp wit and a quick smile. Not being one to dilly or dally he also administered the state fund for SALLE. Six years later, Bob left for The Family Court of the State of Delaware where he became director of the Sussex County Family Court Operation. Here Bob was also one of the founding members of SENTAC. For 15 years the esprit de corps from members of the Sussex County staff was a direct reflection of Bob’s management style and high regard for the people he served with. Bob served on the Board of Directors for Nanticoke Memorial Hospital and The Delaware State Fair as well as the Turnabout Counseling Center. He also served as past president of the Delaware Association of Chiefs’ of Police and the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the International Association of Identification (IAI). He was a regional vice-president for IAI and an instructor at Delaware Technical and Community College, Brandywine Community College, as well as the Delaware State Police Training Academy. He was a member of Masonic Lodge #21, as well as a charter
member of the Delaware State Police Credit Union. Bob’s education was ongoing having attended courses at Harvard University, University of Maryland, Delaware Technical and Community College, Goldey Beacom College, Federal Bureau of Investigation, IBM and the Institution of Applied Science. Besides his wife Mary, Bob is survived by son, Larry Stuart and wife, Sherri of Houston, Texas; daughter, Betsy and husband, Ron Chaney of Dumfries, Va.; daughter, Susie and husband, Bob Masin of Portland, Ore.; and son, Bill Stuart and wife, Michelle of Rehoboth. Bob enjoyed nothing more than being with family, especially his nine grandchildren Sara Stuart, Brooke Prouty, Rachel Schrider, Julie Masin, Elizabeth Thomas, Max Masin, Lauren Stuart, Stephen “Texas” Stuart, Courtney Cotner and Lance Cotner as well as three greatgrandchildren Joey Thomas, Ava Prouty and Rowan Schrider. Bob is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews whom he loved very much. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, William E. and May L. Stuart; brother, Billy Stuart; and sisters, Sara Boyd, Rachel Rudelmier and Dorothy Fairbanks. Many who remember Bob will always recall his positive, uplifting attitude toward life, making everyone he met feel special and unique in some way. His motto was, you always need something to look forward to, and as long as he had Mary by his side, this is exactly what he practiced. Never one to miss a party, Bob was adamant there not be a funeral with tearful mourning and regret. Instead, he insisted on a celebration of his life. Friends and family are invited to this celebration on Saturday, April 18 at 10 a.m. at The Brick Hotel on the Circle in Georgetown. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Delaware State Police Museum Fund, P.O. Box 430, Dover, DE 19903, 302-739-7700 or, your local chapter of the American Heart Association.
Anne W. Townley, 82
Loving wife and mother, Anne Townley of Seaford, went peacefully to join her Savior on Sunday, March 29, 2009, at Christiana Hospital after experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke four days prior. Mrs. Townley was born near Philadelphia then lived most of her life in Cape May County, N.J. She moved to Seaford with her husband Glenn Townley in 2004 to be closer to their daughters, Joyce Mackler of Seaford and Susan Wood of Frankford. Anne was a loving and dedicated homemaker. She enjoyed cooking and gardening and was a long time member of the Stone Harbor Garden Club. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and Seaford Golf and Country Club. She will be remembered for her
sense of humor, compassion for others, love of music, dance and nature, and the care and nurturing she gave her family. Mrs. Townley is survived by her husband of 48 years, Glenn Townley; and two daughters, Joyce Mackler and husband, Dr. Bradley Mackler and their children, Andrew and Catherine Mackler; and Susan Wood and husband, Robert Wood and children, Carolyn and Rebecca Wood. She also has two brothers, Frank Weiss of New Jersey and John Weiss of Florida; a sister, Pauline Johnson of New Jersey; and many nieces and nephews of which she was so fond. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Katie Weiss and three brothers, William Lambert, Steve Weiss and Paul Weiss. There will be a viewing for family and friends on Saturday, April 4 from noon to 1 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church on Shipley Street in Seaford followed immediately by a funeral service. Arrangements are in the care of Cranston Funeral Home in Seaford. Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Townley’s name to the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital Stroke Fund, c/o Thomas Brown, 801 Middleford Rd., Seaford, Delaware 19973.
Nan Keller Makowski, 79
Nan Keller Makowski of Seaford, died on Sunday, March 29, 2009, of Parkinson’s Disease, at home surrounded by her loving family. Born in Cressona, Pa. on Aug. 6, 1929, Nan was the daughter of George R. Keller
and Blanche Mcllwain Keller. Nan was a 1947 graduate of Southern High School of Baltimore, Md. She worked four years at Baltimore Gas and Electric Company while her husband was attending Western Maryland College under the G.I. Bill. She lived in Pennsylvania and Maryland before coming to Seaford in February 1952. She was a devoted homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. Nan was a charter member of Christ Lutheran Church, taught Sunday school, served on various church committees, and was a member of the LWML organization. She was a Cub Scout leader and worked in the Nanticoke Little League concession stand for years and made braided rugs, caned chars and crossstitched in her spare time. She had a lifelong interest in collecting and refinishing antiques, collected Fiesta and was an avid reader of many books. She was a world traveler and especially enjoyed touring Russia and China. Nan took several cross-country motorcycle trips with her son, Tom over the years. Around Seaford she was known for her love of bicycle riding. Besides her parents, Nan was predeceased by a brother, Robert G. Keller, Captain, U.S. Navy. She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Ernest J. Makowski of Seaford; sons, Michael A. Makowski and wife, Traci of Millsboro, and Thomas E. Makowski and wife, Patricia A. Gallagher of Winchester, Idaho; grandsons, Jeremy and Jesse Makowski, also of Millsboro;