David D. Skidmore, Sr.

David D. Skidmore, 83, of New Castle, Delaware, and formerly of Wilmington and Dover, Delaware, as well as, Snow Hill, Pocomoke, and Salisbury, Maryland, died Sunday, September 23, 2007, of multiple complications of diabetes and lung cancer at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Maryland. He was born on June 23, 1924, in Caldwell, NJ, the son of the late Carman Baldwin Skidmore, Sr., and Annie Howitt Donaldson. He was the grandson of Anne Amelia Baldwin and Isaac Samuel Skidmore, the first postmaster of Canarsie, Long Island, New York, and the founder of Skidmore Island, now a Barrier Island off the coast of Cape Charles, Virginia. He graduated from Snow Hill High School, entered the Army in 1943, and served during World War II in Central Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Notzing, Germany. He also earned the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Ribbon. With his father, he was a carpenter, building many houses and boats on the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia as well as Deer's Head Center in Salisbury. He was a past member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local Union 1876 in Salisbury, the Loyal Order of Eagles in Wilmington, and Loyal Order of the Moose. He enjoyed fishing, shrimping, and music. He got great pleasure in taping music from albums to cassettes for his friends and "hanging out" at the Farmers Market and Walmart in New Castle. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, Carman Baldwin Skidmore, Jr., Wilmington, DE, Samuel Skidmore, NJ, and Oliver Skidmore, Newark, DE; his sisters, Mary Kohler, Elsmere, DE, and Anna Perzanowski, Edgewater, MD; and his first wife, Mabel Matthews Shockley, Snow Hill, MD. He is survived by his seven children, Linda Skidmore, Girdletree, MD, David D. (Donnie) Skidmore, Jr. and his companion Patricia Stevens, Salisbury, MD, Emily Troyer, Pasadena, MD, James Vaughn, Blades, DE, and Harry (Buddy) Vaughn, Henry Vaughn, and Donna Faye Vaughn of Milford, DE. Other survivors include his sister, Eileen Schoolfield, Pocomoke, MD, seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He also valued the friendships of his first cousins, Jeanne Donaldson Townsend, Snow Hill, and Betty Soleau, Talladega, AL, and Howard Davis, Jr., Fairhope, AL. Family and friends may visit Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Short Funeral Home, 13 East Grove Street in Delmar. A funeral service will be held at 7:00 pm. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barrier Islands Center, Machipongo, VA, for restoration of its Skidmore Room; the American Diabetes Association; or the charity of one's choice. The family appreciates the support received from friends and neighbors, as well as his many health care providers at Wilmington VA Center, St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE and Atlantic General Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com.

David D. Skidmore, Sr.

June 23, 1924 - September 23, 2007