REEDVILLE—Wilson Hiram Delano, 93, passed away peacefully at his home in Reedville on Monday, July 26, after a day of making his rounds visiting family the previous day.
Wilson grew up in Mila and started working on the water at a young age. He was a lifetime waterman and loved to talk about his days on the Chesapeake Bay. He loved the Chesapeake and especially loved living on Cockrell Creek. Any time he left home for a few days he couldn’t wait to get home to his view of the “Creek.”
Wilson’s greatest blessings were his family and he was constantly checking on all of his children. His best days were when he was surrounded by family and he always looked forward to the next family gathering. He never met a stranger and enjoyed meeting those who visited the “Creek” by boat and welcoming the newcomers in his neighborhood. He also enjoyed keeping up with fish boats.
He was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife Homer Dell Delano in 1990; his parents, Jake and Grace Delano; brothers Ernest, Oldham, Alfred and Franklin; sister, Helen; and daughter-in-law, Judy.
Surviving are one sister, Frances Barr of Colonial Heights; one son, John W. Delano of Tennessee and his three children, Jennifer Bassham (Brent), Joanna Bassham (Clint) and Johnny (Courtney); daughters, Grace Ann Sampson (Stephen), of North Carolina, her two daughters, Mallory Pickett (Andrew) and Bethany Morgan (David); Hope Bosworth (Eric) of King George, her three children, Randall, Chance and Jackie Hoyle (Caleb); Faith King (Stephen) of Warsaw, her two children, Megan Bell (Bryan) and Shane (Michelle); Joy Mitchell, and her two children, Tyler and Hannah; and 12 great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Emily, Brileigh, Brooklyn, Anna Grace, Avery, Ruby, Watson, Arabella, Brayden, Rowan and Taysen.
A funeral service for Wilson was held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 29, at the Welch Funeral Home Marks Chapel with pastor Neale Schools officiating. Burial followed the service in the Fairfields Baptist Church Cemetery in Burgess.
The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, at the Welch Funeral Home Marks Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to JDRF.org, in honor of his great-granddaughter, Anna Grace.
