Horace Edward Short Sr., 86

WYOMING - Horace Edward Short Sr., formerly of Wyoming, died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. He was 86.

Mr. Short was born June 13, 1921, at the family farmhouse near Milton.

He graduated from Milton High School in 1938 and received a bachelors degree in agricultural education and masters in education from the University of Delaware in 1942 and 1952.

Upon graduation from college, Mr. Short became a vocational agriculture teacher at Georgetown High School from 1942-1944 and Caesar Rodney High School from 1944-1983.

He was the sponsor of the local FFA chapter which over the years received numerous national, state and local awards in judging contests, public speaking, parliamentary procedure, and degree awards as well as exhibits at the Delaware State Fair.

Mr. Short was a member of the Delaware Vocational Agriculture Teacher's Association, serving as president three years, secretary two years, and for 10 years on the advisory committee to the state FFA chapter.

In 1977, Mr. Short was a state finalist for Delaware Teacher of the Year, and in 1983 received one of six national awards as the National Vocational Agriculture Teacher Association's Outstanding Teacher in Vocational Agriculture.

He also received the Honorary American Farmer Degree from the National FFA, and from the University of Delaware's School of Agriculture, the George M. Warlow award for prestigious agriculture alumni.

Mr. Short was a member of the American Vocational Association, Delaware Vocational Association, Delaware State Education Association, where he served several terms on the legislative committee, and the DSEA's Retired Teachers Association.

The legislative committees helped prepare educational legislation that was introduced into the General Assembly.

Mr. Short organized evening classes for farmers under the Rural War Production Training Program during World War II.

After the war, he organized and directed a program for institutional on-the-farm training under the Veterans Administration from 1946 to 1953.

He was a member of the Fruitland Grange serving as master for two years.

Mr. Short was appointed by all the Delaware governors from Peterson through Minner to serve on the Delaware Advisory Council on Career and Vocational Education where he served as chairman of the Legislative Committee and on a Task Force for Vocational Youth Organizations.

His accomplishments as a civic leader include 21 years on Wyoming Town Council; secretary for 17 years, vice mayor for three years and mayor for one year; the Sewer & Water Authority which secured the town sewer system in the 1960s; the Camden-Wyoming Police Commission, and the initial Wyoming Park Commission that purchased Wyoming Park.

Mr. Short was also instrumental in obtaining sidewalks and home mail delivery in the 1960s for the townspeople.

In 2005, he was awarded a Jefferson Award.

Mr. Short also served on the board of elders for the Bible Fellowship Church for 18 years. He held the office of secretary while serving.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard M. (Chester) and Lydia E. Morris Short; and sister, Sara E. White.

Mr. Short is survived by his wife of 65 years, C. Elizabeth "Betty" Hollingsworth Short, formerly of Wyoming; four children, H. Edward Jr. and his wife Lucille of Glasgow, Mary Ellen Short of Baltimore, Thomas C. and his wife Monica of Dover, and Elizabeth A. Sperati and her husband William of Wilmington; five grandchildren, Dr. Andrew Short of Santa Barbara, Calif., Michael Short of Terra Haute, Ind., Jacob Sperati of Seattle, Wash., PV2 Joshua Sperati of Fairbanks, Alaska and Rebecca Sperati of Wilmington; three step-grandchildren, Michael Hughes and his wife Rachel of Columbia, S.C., Tim Hughes of Wilmington, and Katie Hughes of Dover; and two step-great granddaughters, Anna and Charisma.

A viewing will be 6-9 p.m. Tuesday in the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Burial will be at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden.

Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bible Fellowship Church, 201 E. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Camden, DE 19934; the Caesar Rodney High School FFA, 239 Old North Road, Camden, DE 19934; or Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.