Ella Mae Chelton, 91

CRISFIELD - Ella Mae Chelton, 91, died on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at the Alice Byrd Tawes Nursing Home in Crisfield.

Born in Crisfield on February 26, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Fannie Riggin Galloway. Her husband, Thomas Frank Chelton, died May 27, 1961.

A member of the Crisfield Church of God, she worked many years as a seamstress at the former Crisfield Cap Factory; and during World War II she worked on the assembly line for Bendix Radio in Baltimore. Later, she retired from Rubberset Co. in Crisfield after 10 years.

A devoted mother who was very family oriented, she is survived by her son, Bruce Kevin Chelton and wife Therese of Oakland Park, Fla.; a step-son, Donald Chelton and wife Billie, of Salisbury and formerly of Princess Anne; a sister-in-law, Isabelle Dryden of Crisfield; nieces, Ella Mae Galloway of Elizabethtown, Pa., Francine Hartline and husband James of Vivian, La., Carole Rodriguez and companion, Ray Evans of Crisfield, Marlene Adkins of Crisfield, Willis Dryden and wife Virginia of Crisfield and Beverly Rayne and husband Vic of Crisfield; her life-long friend, Stella Sterling of Crisfield; special family friends, Rick and Lisa Lord of Crisfield; her special neighbor and "other son," Howard Harris of Crisfield; numerous great-nieces, great-nephews and relatives.

Along with her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Shirley Diane Chelton in 1946; her stepson, Thomas Frank Chelton, Jr. in 2003; her brother, Seth Galloway; and her half-brother, Howard Galloway.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home where friends may call two hours prior to the service. The Rev. Philip Morris will officiate. Interment will follow in Crisfield Cemetery.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alice Byrd Tawes Nursing Home New Building Fund, 201 Hall Highway, Crisfield, Md. 21817.