Mary Louise Downs Lancaster

Mary Louise Downs Lancaster of Port Penn, Delaware, died on Friday November 27, 2009, in the Silver Lake Nursing Center, Dover, DE. Mrs. Lancaster was born March 1, 1920, near Cheswold, DE. She was the second of three children born to the late Charles A. Downs and Mary C. Knotts Downs. Louise’s schooling began in Cheswold with her cousin Margaret Turner as her first grade teacher. Since her parents were itinerate farmers, Louise moved several times during her early years attending school in Kenton, Smyrna, Christiana and Newark. She graduated from the Middletown High School in 1938 and from the School of Industrial Arts in Trenton, N.J. in 1940. As a young adult, Louise organized and was the first leader of the Stump Corner 4-H Club near Fieldsboro that remained active for 50 years before disbanding. Louise met and married Floyd Wilson Lancaster on June 29, 1940. Her first child, George, was born on April 2, and her daughter, Sherrie, followed nearly six years later on March 3. During WWII, Mrs. Lancaster worked at a defense factory in Elkton, Maryland, assembling percussion caps and for Ballanca Aircraft Corporation in New Castle working in the tool crib. Mrs. Lancaster was also employed part-time in food service for many years in Northern DE. From 1970 to 1981, Louise worked in the Smyrna High School library as a library aide. She thoroughly enjoyed working with the school librarian John W. Dickinson, and loved interacting with all the students that frequented the library. Mrs. Lancaster lived in Crumpton, Maryland, for almost thirty years before changing her residency to Port Penn, DE. She was an active member of the community and participated in many events over the years. The Crumpton Candle Light Tour was one activity she especially liked and opened her home to visitors as the Teddy Bear House. She was a past member of the Queen Anne’s Historical Society, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Crumpton Fire Co. and a member of the Crumpton United Methodist Church. Her hobbies included sewing, creating teddy bears, gardening, bird watching, and reading, especially history. Louise remained as active as her health would allow and joined the Historical Society of Port Penn and also attended the Port Penn Presbyterian Church when possible. Failing health and a fall placed her in permanent care at the Silver Lake Center where she remained until her demise. In addition to her parents and siblings, Charles “Buck” Downs and Helen Downs Darrell, her husband Floyd of 39 years preceded Mrs. Lancaster in death on March 20th, 1980. Her son ,George F. Lancaster and wife Susan of Port Penn DE; and her daughter, Sherrie A. Stanley of Cheswold, DE, four grandchildren, six great - grandchildren and one great – great - granddaughter all survive Mrs. Lancaster. . Funeral services will be held on Thursday December 3, at 11am, at the Fellows Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 370 W. Cypress St. Millington, Maryland, where friends and family may call after 10am. Interment will follow in the Crumpton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in her memory be made to the Crumpton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 343 Crumpton, MD. 21628; or the Crumpton Vol. Fire Co, P.O. Box 68, Crumpton, MD 21628; or the Compassionate Care Hospice, 702B. Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington DE. 19805.

Mary Louise Downs Lancaster

March 1, 1920 - November 27, 2009