William Howard Ockels Sr., 89

SEAFORD - William Howard Ockels Sr., died Tuesday, October 13, 2009, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. He was 89. Born in Seaford the son of the late Nellie Outten and Herman Ockels Sr., he was a farmer. He was a World War II Army veteran, a former member of the Laurel Grange, and a member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, where he served as treasurer for 29 years. He was a chicken farmer who also loved driving tractors putting in and harvesting field crops. He enjoyed family time with his kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Jean E. Outten Ockels; a brother, Ed Ockels; a sister, Florence Thomas; and a granddaughter, Julie Ockels. Survivors include three sons, William H. Ockels Jr. of Seaford, Donald L. Ockels of Sedgwick, Maine, and James S. Ockels of Seaford; three daughters, Debbie Massey, Joyce Ockels, and Grace Stakiel, all of Seaford; two brothers, Rueben Ockels of Milton, and Herman Ockels Jr. of Seaford; a sister, Bernice Whaley of Seaford; eight grandchildren, Faye Allen, Brian Massey, Scott Massey, Lori Stakiel, Matt Ockels, Marie Massey, Kate Stakiel and Ben Mobray; and several great-grandchildren. Services were 2 p.m. Sunday, October 18, 2009, at Watson-Yates Funeral Home, Front & King Streets, Seaford, where friends called from 12 Noon to 2 p.m. Rev. Roland E. Tice officiated, with burial in Blades Cemetery, Blades.