Elaine Townsend Dickerson
MILFORD - Elaine Townsend Dickerson died Saturday, June 21, 2014 at home with her family and caretakers at her side following a year long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 88.
Elaine was born in Milford in 1925, the youngest child of George Marshall and Virginia Salevan Townsend, owners and publishers of the Milford Chronicle weekly newspaper founded by Elaine's grandfather, Col. Theodore Townsend in 1878.
Elaine was a civic-minded and dynamic force during her lifetime. She began her first newspaper column, In the Air Force, in March, 1952 while serving with her husband in the Air Force in Tampa, Florida. After a twenty year career with her husband in the Air Force that included homes in seven states and Germany, the family served their final duty station at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Elaine returned to Milford in 1969 to support her husband's second career as Editor of the Milford Chronicle. She continued her connection with Milford citizens writing a social column, Of the People, and finally, Blue Hen Beat, ending in 2002 after 50 years of continuous work.
During her life she was active with the Milford Hospital Auxiliary, Milford Historical Society, Milford Museum, Mispillion Associates, predecessor to the Downtown Milford group, Milford New Century Club, where she was a past president, and was a 72 year member of the Avenue United Methodist Church in Milford. At her death she was the second oldest member of Avenue, joining in 1942. She participated with friends in an ongoing bridge club and met regularly with her peers at First Friday gathering in later years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, L. Hayes Dickerson in 2003, and a brother, Theodore Townsend.
Elaine is survived by her three daughters, Lynne Sarich and her husband Ace of Annapolis, MD; Dawn Kenton and her husband David of Milford; and Leslie Dickerson of Springfield, VA; her sister, Anne T. Minner of Harrington; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2014 at Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church St, Milford, where friends may call after 11:00 a.m.
Burial will follow the services in the Milford Community Cemetery on North Walnut Street.
In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage contributions to Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church St, Milford, DE, 19963.
(06/23/14)