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Richard (Dick) B. Seely, of Newark, formerly of Harrington, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Richard was born in Milford, DE, to the late Ida Bland Seely and Richard Clark Seely. He was raised by his mother and step-father, the late Woodrow Welch.
Richard was a Harrington High School graduate (1956), and a University of Delaware graduate (1960 and 1962) with BS and MS degrees in Weed Science. He was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity.
In 1961, he married Bonnie Milspaw. Their children, Richard Sean, Kathryn Lynn and Valorie Dawn, completed their family. Richard and Bonnie later divorced. In 1981, Richard married Carole Shaw. They later divorced. In 2017, Richard moved to Newark, DE, with his life partner, Brenda Toomey.
His career in agronomy led him to New Jersey with Union Carbide, Indiana with Ciba Geigy, and Illinois and Texas with Nor-AM. In 1985, he returned to Harrington and worked at the University of Maryland Extension Service, retiring in 2002.
Richard especially enjoyed time with his children and grandchildren. His interests included gardening, reading, presidential history, listening to all types of music, and following the University of Delaware athletics and college basketball, as well as, the St. Louis Cardinals. He was an active member of the Harrington High School Alumni and was a past member of the Elks Lodge and Moose Lodge.
Anyone who was fortunate to carry on a correspondence with Richard, knew he wrote an excellent, amusing letter, and he loved nothing more than receiving handwritten letters from family and friends.
Richard is survived by his life partner, Brenda Toomey; son, Richard S. (Claire) Seely; daughters, Kathryn Lynn (Jim) Unruh, Valorie Dawn (Damian) Peduto; grandchildren, Erin (Tyler) Ellerman, Anne Seely, Jay Unruh, Collin Unruh, Katey Unruh, Sabrina Peduto; great grandson, Orson Ellerman; half-siblings, Frank Welch, Barbara Pettyjohn, Paul Seely, and Margaret Seely.
A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date at Hollywood Cemetery in Harrington. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to Harrington High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, PO Box 37, Harrington, DE 19952.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home, Harrington, DE. Please visit us at www.melvinfuneralhome.com to express or send condolences.
