Samuel J. Passwaters Jr., 72

BRIDGEVILLE - Samuel J. Passwaters Jr., of Bridgeville, passed away Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 72.

Mr. Passwaters was born July 26, 1935, in Bridgeville, son of the late Samuel J. and Pearl (Harris) Passwaters.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Mr. Passwaters was employed for several years as a mechanic with Hammond Cadillac in Milford before opening his own service station in 1960 on North East Front Street in Milford, which he operated for 14 years.

In 1974, after closing his business, he worked as a mechanic for Perdue Farms in Milford.

He was a member of the Seaford Moose Lodge 1728.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Passwaters was preceded in death by a sister, Paula R. Harting, and her husband, Luke.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Loreta M. and Steven Fowler of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; four sons and a daughter-in-law, Kenneth J. Passwaters and Dale Passwaters, both of Lincoln, Samuel III and Melissa Passwaters of Milford and Frank A. Passwaters of Georgetown; a sister and brother-in-law, Loreta P. and Frank Williams of Houston; 13 grandchildren, Pamela L. Parker, Christina A. Reed, Jonathan W. Jones, Kevin J. Jones, Danielle Passwaters, Dale Passwaters Jr., Angela Passwaters, Kevin Todd, Gwen Passwaters, Michael Passwaters, Heidi Passwaters, Paige Davis and Emma Shockley; 15 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave., Milford.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 100 Patriots Way, Millsboro. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery.

Instead of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions to the SPCA Sussex Chapter, 22918 DuPont Blvd., Georgetown, DE 19947.