Jan. 8, 1924 -- April 26, 2008
DOVER, Del. -- Melville F. Warren Sr., 84, passed away Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born on Jan. 8, 1924, in Faison, N.C., to Olivia Jones Warren and Fred Fearington Warren.
Mel served in the United States Army during World War II and returned to graduate from Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson. He received a master's degree in educational administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1951.
His career began in the Morgantown School System. After three years, he was selected assistant superintendent in the Department of Defense School System to serve in Wiesbaden, Germany. It was there that he met his future wife, Betty, who was a teacher. They were married there on June 1, 1957.
He returned to the United States and after a brief assignment in Oxford, Pa., joined the Dover School District (now Capital School District) in Dover, Del. Mel was asked to serve as the director of elementary education, a position he held under five superintendents. His career as an educator in Dover spanned from 1958 until his retirement in 1991.
During his tenure, Mr. Warren saw the district expand from three elementary schools to six, and was proud to have recruited dozens of new teachers from colleges throughout the eastern part of the United States, many of whom taught their entire careers and raised their families in the Dover area. In addition to curriculum supervision, he initiated many new programs in the Capital district. He organized the Kent County Orthopedic School to provide services for physically handicapped children and was also supervisor of the district's school nurses. In the early 1960s, Mel helped manage the peaceful integration of the Dover elementary schools.
Mel was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa Professional Fraternity in Education in 1953. He was state president of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development -- ASCD, was state president of the Sons of the American Revolution -- SAR. He was a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Dover Rotary Club during the 1960s and '70s. In 1973, Mel was named an Outstanding Educator in America by the Academy of American Educators.
Mel was preceded in death by his parents, along with sisters, Helen Winkler and Virginia Burcher. He is survived by his wife, Betty L. Warren; son, Mel Warren Jr.; daughter-in-law, Peni G. Warren; and grandsons, Chase and Cameron, all of Dover, Del. Mel is also survived by several relatives in the Faison area and farther South.
A memorial service was held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Dover, Del. on Friday, May 2, 2008.
Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside service which will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2008, at Wayne Memorial Park, 2925 U.S. Highway 117 N., Goldsboro, N.C.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Faison United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 417, Faison, N.C. 28341 or the Bayhealth Foundation, 640 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901.
Blanche Hart Artis
ELM CITY -- Blanche H. Artis, 85, of 305 S. Pender St. died Friday. The funeral will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at Vaughn's Chapel Baptist Church, Elm City. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home, 805 E. Nash St., Wilson, 237-2624.
Gordon Dixon Brunson
Jan. 10, 1932 -- May 5, 2008
Gordon Dixon Brunson, 76, died Monday. The funeral will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Red Oak Baptist Church. Arrangements are by Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount. Condolences may be directed to www.wheelerandwoodlief.com.
Mary Tillery
TOLEDO, Ohio -- Mary Tillery, 97, formerly of Bridgesville, died Monday. Arrangements are by Carrons Funeral Home, 325 E. Nash St., Wilson. Condolences may be directed to www.carronsfuneralhome.com.
THE WILSON DAILY TIMES publishes brief death notices at no charge. Full obituaries are published on a paid basis. The fax number is 243-7501. The obituary deadline is 9 a.m. weekdays and 9 p.m. Friday for the Saturday edition.