Obituaries

Thelma Cropper Gault, 90

Thelma Cropper Gault, 90, died Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at home. She was a retired assistant vice president from Maryland State Bank after having started at the original Bishopville Bank. She was as appreciated by her co-workers as well as the many customers who remembered her friendliness and courtesy years after her retirement.

She had been an active member of Wilson United Methodist Church in Bishopville, where she served as financial secretary for almost 50 years; the Ladies Auxiliary of the Bishopville Volunteer Fire Dept where she was the last of the charter members and had served 65 years; Women of Wilson, where she had been the treasurer for many years; and the Willard’s Senior Center right up until the time of her death. She had received the Governor’s Citation twice. She was always a quiet, unassuming and modest woman. She was a willing worker who could always be counted on in the community. Most important in her life was her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her example of living a life of unfailing kindness, caring and compassion are a true legacy to them.

She is survived by her son, David Wesley Gault and his wife Beverly; her daughter, Rosalie Gault Smith and her husband Murray; four grandchildren, Cindy G. Parente, Stephen Gault Smith, David J. Gault, and M. Ross Smith Jr.; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Hazel Wilkins, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Gault Jr. They had shared almost 51 years of marriage. A brother, Herman D. Cropper, died in 1977.

Funeral services were scheduled for June 30, 2006. Internment will be at Bishopville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Bishopville Vol. Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary for the Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 350, Bishopville, MD 21813.

Lambert P. Ayres, 83

Lambert P. Ayres, 83, of Lewes died Sunday, July 2, 2006 at Beebe Medical Center. He was a graduate of Millsboro High School Class of 1949 and he furthered his education at the City College of New York and Providence College. He was a civilian electronics technician with the U.S. Army Signal Corps until he entered military service in April of 1943, serving in the 26th Infantry Division in Europe. While in Europe he participated in 4 major campaigns and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic action in the Battle of the Bulge. After VE Day he served in the Army of Occupation in Europe until his discharge in 1946.

Returning to civilian life, he joined his father and brother in the partnership of Ayres Service Center in Millsboro. During this period he was active in real estate and designed and built several homes in the Millsboro area.

In 1958, after careful reevaluation of the future, he decided to enter the field of commercial banking. He accepted a position as teller with the Lewes Trust Company, later to merge with the Farmer’s Bank. During the five years to follow he acquired a working knowledge of all the bank service departments and he attended several AIB courses completing the pre-standard certificate. He retired from Mellon Bank in November of 1988 where he had served as assistant cashier, trust officer, and then assistant vice president.

Ayres was a member of the U.S. Power Squadron, treasurer for the Lewes Little League, and a member of the audit committee for the Beebe Hospital Building Campaign. His hobbies consisted of travel, photography, model construction and Hi-Fi music.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Ruth Hudson of Millsboro, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Paul and Phyllis Ann Hudson, Robert and Lois White, Ann Hudson, and Dorothy Hudson; many nieces and nephews, Reginald Hudson, Daryl Hudson, Sharon Boyce, R.J. Hudson, Pamela Busby, Karen Sue Bastianelli, Suzanne Lingo, Robin Bunting, Stephanie Hughes, Veronica White, Jacquelyn and Adrian Ayres. He is also survived by many great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Harry R. Ayres.

Funeral services were scheduled for Friday, July 7, at 1 p.m. at the Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington Street, Millsboro, where friends may call at noon. Interment with military honors will be in the Millsboro Cemetery.