At the time of the full moon phase, midst the glorious gathering of the Limulus Polyphemus (Horseshoe Crab) and migratory birds along our Delaware shoreline, Amory Clayton Minear, Jr. passed from this world to a higher dimension, the floating world. On Friday 4th of May, 2018 at 10:16 a.m., he died despite his arduous struggle to survive. His will was that of perseverance, his last word "I'll be alright."
Amory was born on Jan. 21, 1924 in Freeport, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents Amory C. Minear, Sr., a dairy farmer and poet, his mother Helen Hawley Minear, sister Helen Mae Minear of Milford, his Uncle Ralph and his spouse Lois Minear of Clearwater, Fla., his mother-in-law Hazel Allsopp of Dover, great grandmother-in-law Carrie Sherman of Athol, Mass., Aunt Vernie Eggleston of Pearl City, Iowa and nephew Gary Minear of Clearwater, Fla.
As the son of a dairyman, Amory spent his adolescent years at the Rawleigh's Ideal Experimental Farms located on US Grant Highway 20, near Freeport, Ill. His father managed various dairy operations in Illinois, Millbrook, N.Y. and Gibson, Pa. and his family eventually settled in Orange, Mass. where they owned and operated Grandview Farms. Amory spent his childhood and teen years assisting his family with daily operations including milking, bottling and delivering milk in a horse drawn wagon, prior to attending school each morning. He was an "A" student throughout his school years and even skipped eighth grade. Upon graduation from high school, he worked at a paper mill located on the Miller River in Orange, Mass., and later became a lineman for the local telephone company. He commenced working for General Foods in Orange, Mass. on May 28, 1951. After General Foods closed its facility in Orange, Amory and his growing family relocated to the General Foods facility in Dover in 1964, where he served as a Quality Control Supervisor with General Foods/Kraft until his retirement on Jan. 27, 1984. During his tenure with the company, he actively participated in the development of the drink "Tang."
Amory married his sweetheart Linda Mearl Allsopp in Massachusetts on July 20, 1946. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Dover at the Former Blue Coat Inn on Silver Lake in 2006. Amory is survived by his wife of 72 years, who resides at Broadmeadow Nursing Home in Middletown. He is also survived by his son Alan M Minear (Brenda McCabe), son Clayton A. Minear of Wilmington; daughter, Melaine Minear of Smyrna; son Miles Minear of Dover; "daughter" Moira "Rai" Goletz of Dover; five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, a nephew and his little canine friend "Mattie", who he adored. He was "dad" to so many and enjoyed family and friends to the fullest.
Amory and Linda were "joined at the hip." Upon retirement, they enjoyed over twenty years of "snow birding" in the Clearwater-Tampa, Fla. area, cozy in their modest camper at Alcove Park. They loved playing golf (Amory hit two hole-in-ones), participating in activities at Alcove with their friends, including comedy skits, cards and pancake breakfasts. They also enjoyed fishing, local gardens and museums and exploring local flea markets in search of antique buttons, rare books and sundry treasures that caught their fancy. Amory and Linda delivered Meals on Wheels and maintained the Dover Modern Maturity Center Library for over twenty years in Dover and in the Senior Center in Clearwater, Fla. Amory delivered Meals on Wheels in the Dover area for over thirty years until the age of 92, despite debilitating spinal arthritis, with the aid of his walker.
Amory and Linda were active members of the First Unitarian Church in Athol, Mass. for over fourteen years prior to their relocation to Delaware. They founded and hosted the original Unitarian Fellowship of Dover at their family home at 21 Manor Drive in Dover. They supported others spiritual truth in heartfelt informal discussions, and acted as President, Secretary and Treasurer for many years. They were active in the civil rights movement in the 1960's and were generous in their financial support of numerous social and environmental organizations. Although he lived modestly, Amory generously made financial contributions to over forty charities until age 92.
Amory was a humanitarian, civil rights activist, environmental steward, advocate for the mentally disabled and elderly, a man of compassion and strength and uncompromised principals. He was the family correspondent and salvaged old chairs needing repair. His friends and family had affectionate nicknames reflecting his diverse interests and talents including "Arnie," "Archie," "Birdman of Broadmeadow," "Delaware Fats," "Math Genius," "Jokester," "Word Wizard," and "DSN Crossword Aficionado."
Amory and his father were gifted poets, and their poems are currently being edited and will be published later. Also, the memoir of the Minear family and a treatise on palliative care are being written by his daughter Melaine Minear, a third generation poet, whose penname is Dharna.
The family gives heartfelt thanks to those who helped Amory along the way, and especially during his last weeks of life.
Interment will be private. A celebration of Amory's life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at historic Belmont Hall, 217 Smyrna Leipsic Rd, Smyrna. Friends and family are invited to share memories of his life at that time. Music and refreshments will be provided. Please R.S.V.P. by email to melaineminear@comcast.net.
Arrangements are by Torbert Funeral Chapel of Dover. Friends and family are invited to visit Amory's page on the Torbert Funeral Home website. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name to Meals on Wheels, c/o Modern Maturity Center, 1121 Forrest Avenue, Dover, DE 19904 or a charity of your choice are appreciated.