John F.

Andrews Sr., 71

CENTREVILLE, Md. - John F. Andrews Sr., a beloved educator in Queen Anne"s County for more than 46 years, died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, as a result of a car accident in Centreville. He was 71.

Born June 3, 1936, in Pamplico, S.C., Mr. Andrews was the youngest of 11 children born to the late Billy and Catherine Andrews.

He was educated in the public schools in Pamplico and Florence, S.C., and earned his bachelor"s and master"s degrees at A&T State University, Greensboro, N.C.

Mr. Andrews served two years in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany.

He and his wife, the late Marlene (West) Andrews, were married Oct. 14, 1961, and moved to Centreville, joining the Charles Wesley United Methodist Church. The couple gave birth to two children, the late John F. Andrews Jr., and Wanda Sirko of Woolwich Township, N.J.

Mr. Andrews was a faithful and loyal member of Charles Wesley Church (now New Life UMC) for 46 years, serving in numerous capacities. He was the current president of the United Methodist Men, director of the men"s choir, a member of the pastor parish relations committee and a member of the church council.

Education, specifically public education, was his passion. He loved teaching and working with young people. He believed in the public school system and the right of every child to a good education.

Mr. Andrew"s dedication and long years of service in the Queen Anne"s County public schools earned him numerous honors, awards and accolades. He was the recipient of the 2001 Nancy S. Grasmick Excellence for Minority Achievement Award, and was named the Queen Anne"s County Educator of the Year in 2006.

He was assistant principal of Queen Anne"s County High School.

Knowing that he had a small hand in helping prepare young people to be productive and contributing citizens of the county, city, state and beyond gave Mr. Andrews the greatest pleasure and satisfaction.

He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, teacher and friend, and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. His untimely death has left his biological family, church family, school family and the Queen Anne"s County community in deep sorrow.

Mr. Andrews is survived by his daughter, Wanda Sirko; a son-in-law, Stephan Sirko of Woolwich Township; a daughter-in-law, Laura Andrews of Salisbury; two granddaughters, Katya Abril Andrews of Salisbury, and Rebecca Ashton Sirko of Woolwich Township; three sisters, Minda Hunter, Lizzie Grant and Evelyn Woodberry, all of Pamplico; a brother, Deleon Andrews of Pamplico; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A Christian wake and viewing will be 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in New Life United Methodist Church, 234 S. Liberty St., Centreville. Services of celebration and remembrance will be 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at New Life UMC, and 1 p.m. Wednesday at Queen Anne"s County High School.

Burial will follow in Chesterfield Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the New Life United Methodist Church for the Ghana Church building project.

William K. "Bill" Beach, 88

DELMAR - William K. "Bill" Beach of Delmar died Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, Md. He was 88.

Bill was born Feb. 13, 1919, in Delmar, son of the late Kendal B. and Nema (Owens) Beach.

He graduated from Delmar High School in the late 1930s.

After high school, Bill was among the first drafted in the U.S. Army to serve his country during World War II.

As a child growing up in Columbia, he was a member of Mt. Herman United Methodist Church. He was also a long time, faithful member of St. Stephen"s United Methodist Church, where he was a choir member for many years and served on numerous committees.

Bill worked for many years as a millwright at the E.I. DuPont Co., Seaford, and as a carpenter for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Joiners and Millwrights Local No. 2012, Seaford, and again as a millwright for a number of years at the Indian River Power Plant, Millsboro.

He was a member of the Delmar Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8276, the Delmar American Legion and the Delmar Alumni Association.

Bill loved the outdoors, farming, gardening, hunting and fishing. He cherished spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Verdia M. Beach, who resides in Atria Assisted Living, Salisbury; four daughters, Patricia B. Naugle and her husband Bunky, Suzanne Roberts and her husband John, Bonnie Wood Maloney and her husband Greg, and Sandie Perry and her husband Mike, all of Delmar; 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Frances D. Beach, in 1982; a brother who passed as an infant; and three sisters, Louise Truitt, Evelyn Lecates and Nancy Hazel.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Stephen"s United Methodist Church, 101 E. State St., Delmar, where family and friends may call one hour earlier. The Rev. Marsha Carpenter will officiate. Interment will follow the services at St. Stephen"s Cemetery, Delmar.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephen"s United Methodist Church, 101 E. State St., Delmar, DE 19940.

Arrangements are being handled by Short Funeral Home, Delmar.

Dennis Steven

"Steve" Dilks, 58

SEAFORD - Dennis Steven "Steve" Dilks of Seaford passed away Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 58.

Steve was born in Waltham, Mass., on Nov. 18, 1948.

He was raised in Elkton, Md., where he graduated from Elkton High School in 1966. He was also a graduate of Elkton Community College with a degree in criminal justice.

From 1972 through 1975, he was a member of the Elkton town police.

During his career, Steve served in the U.S. Air Force from December 1967 to November 1971, with two tours of duty in Vietman. He worked with various military and policing operation throughout the United States doing undercover work, including drug interdiction operations in southern Texas.

He also played semi-pro baseball for several years in Wilmington, was a supervisor for Amtrak, a licensed real estate appraiser in a co-owned agency and a maintenance operator/manager for private and commercial properties for the past 15 years in this area.

Steve was a life member of Virgil Wilson Post 4961, Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he served as post commander. He was a life member of AmVets Post 1694, where he served as past first vice commander and past trustee, and a member of Nanticoke Post 6 American Legion and the Moose Lodge, all in Seaford.

He was also a member of MENSA.

Steve is survived by his soulmate, Phyllis L. Wilson of Seaford; a son, Steven Dilks and his wife Kim of Tampa, Fla.; two daughters, Stephanie Johnson and her husband Matt of Wilmington, and Bobbi Mendolia and her husband Joel of Melbourne, Fla.; two granddaughters, Macey Dilks and Caedyn Dilks; a brother-in-law, Bill Grayston of Seaford; a stepson, Christopher Wilson of Baltimore; a stepdaughter, Dawn Wilson-Enoch of Placitas, N.M.; and his former wife, Linda Davis of Wilmington.

A celebration of Steve"s life will be held at Virgil Wilson Post 4961, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Middleford Road, Seaford, on Sunday at 4 p.m. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to AmVets Post 1694, P.O. Box 98, Seaford, DE 19973; or to Virgil Wilson Post 4961, P.O. Box 496, Seaford, DE 19973.

Arrangements by Watson-Yates Funeral Home, Seaford.

Joan Kassel, 70

SMYRNA - Joan Kassel of Smyrna passed away Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, in Christiana Care-Christiana Hospital, Newark. She was 70.

Mrs. Kassel was born July 3, 1937, in Ne