ODESSA - Catherine T. Sheats died peacefully on January 20, 2014 at Westminster Village in Dover. Catherine was born on June 16, 1918 in Philadelphia to the late Capt. David H. and Catherine G. Thornton. She graduated from Middletown High School in 1935 and was the valedictorian of her class. She also graduated from Goldey College and was a secretary for the Hercules Chemical Co. Catherine along with her husband Philemon, raised their family on a dairy farm near Odessa, which came to be known as Middessa Farms. She was employed by Winterthur of Odessa for many years, as a guide and bookkeeper. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Odessa. She was also a member of the Women's Club of Odessa and a past president. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Philemon Lloyd Sheats, Jr.; a son, John Marshall Sheats; and a brother, David H. Thornton. She is survived by her sons, P. Lloyd and wife, Sharyn of Smyrna, David E. and wife, Carol of Odessa; her daughters, Ann S. VanOgtrop and husband, Bernard of Wilmington, and C. Lea Wainwright and her husband, George of Middletown; twelve grandchildren and 13 great- grandchildren. Services will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 28th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul's U.M. Church, 406 Main St., Odessa, DE where friends may call one hour before the service. Interment will be in Old Drawyers Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to St. Paul's U.M. Church, P.O. Box 253, Odessa, DE 19730 or Delaware Hospice, Inc., 16 Polly Drummond Court, Newark, DE 19711 Online condolences can be shared with Catherine's family at www.daniels-hutchison.com