Ernest T. Fitzgerald

LINCOLN - Ernest T. Fitzgerald, a lifetime resident of Lincoln, passed away Thursday, March 29, 2007, in his home, surrounded by his loving family, after a long illness.

Ernest was the only child of Willis and Sallie (Coverdale) Fitzgerald.

He was employed by Clifford Donovan until Mr. Donovan"s death, and then worked for many years as a driver for Peninsula Oil. He retired from fulltime work in 1992, but stayed on at Peninsula Oil for many years part-time. He was also a self-employed farmer.

When he was able, Ernest and his wife attended Milford Church of the Nazarene.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country in Japan.

Ernest was an avid hunter and owned several beagles that won trophies and ribbons at trials. He was a past member of the Greenbrier Hunting Lodge and Laurel Beagle Club. He was also a life member of the Ellendale Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9244 and the AARP.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Ruth Ann (Messick) Fitzgerald; three children, Berta Goodwin and her husband Jim of Georgetown, Greg Fitzgerald of Felton and Russ Howard of Slaughter Beach; five grandchildren; a great-grandson; a half-brother, Kenneth Fitzgerald of Lincoln; two half-sisters, Mary Speakman and Margaret Helsdon, both of Lincoln; and three sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Mariner and Ethel White and her husband Jim, all of Milford, and Rose Warren and her husband Charles "Butch" of Lincoln.

Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, 119 NW Front St., Milford, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Lincoln Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Home of the Brave Foundation Inc., 6632 Sharp Road, Milford, DE 19963; or Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.