Harry L. Vandever

Harry L. Vandever, Sr., Age 82, of Brandywine Hundred, DE, passed away on March 28th, 2013. He was born May 27th, 1930, in Arden, DE.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 50 years, Ellen Elizabeth Hoover Vandever, and his grandson Rodney McBride.

He is survived by daughters Shirley Vandever (Jimmy) of Bellefonte, DE, Karen Neal (Larry) of Newark, DE, Alice Vandever of Newark, DE, Pennie Whisenant (Palmer) of Moore, SC, and son Harry Vandever, Jr. (Kelly) of Claymont, DE as well as grandson Jefferson Whisenant, granddaughters Amanda Whisenant and Julie McBride, four great-grandchildren, sisters Nancy Walker and Linda Scott, and fiancée Joan Ferguson.

Harry graduated from Brown Technical High School in 1948. Upon graduation from high school, Harry began a plumbing apprenticeship with Wm. H. McDaniel, Inc. He went on to supervise the mechanical installations in many Delaware schools during the boom construction period of the 1950's and 1960's.

In 1979, he achieved an A.A. in Business Management from Goldey Beacom College. He was past Commander of Delaware Veterans Post 1, and was a member of Brown High School Alumni, Interstate Baseball Umpires Association, and Plumbers/Pipefitters Local 74. He served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean conflict.

For sixteen years until his retirement in 1995, he worked for the Nemours Foundation as a project construction mechanical coordinator at DuPont Children's Hospital.

After his marriage to Ellen, along with the help of his father and grandfather, he built the family home on Grubb Road, a solid foundation which still proudly stands.

Harry and his wife Ellen loved to travel. He introduced his children to camping, kayaking, and the love of the outdoors. He was especially fond of West Virginia, where many family vacations were taken. He was also proud of his yearly garden, the bounty of which was always shared with family and friends.

Harry will be missed by all who knew him. He was a man of few words, but many good deeds. To his children, he provided the firm but loving hand to guide them, and showed them by example the value of hard work, thrift, and honesty.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 10:30 am at Chester Bethel United Methodist Church, 2619 Foulk Rd., Wilmington, DE. Friends and family wishing to honor Harry's life may begin to arrive at 9:30 A.M.

For online condolences, please visit Chandler Funeral Homes & Crematory

chandlerfuneralhome.com

302.478.7100

Published in The News Journal from March 31 to April 1, 2013