TERRY L. MATTHEWS

Terry Linwood Matthews, 56, of Norfolk, Va., passed away on Sept. 26 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del.

Born in Portsmouth, Va., he was the son of Margaret Jones Gemberling of Norfolk, Va., and the late Linwood Hardy. Terry enjoyed spending time with his family and watching the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

He is survived by his mother; one son, Taylor Matthews of Oxford; one brother, Bo Matthews of Norfolk, Va.; and four grandchildren. A graveside service was held Oct. 11 at Oxford Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

WILLIAM I. SHOWALTER

William I. Showalter passed away Oct. 15 at his residence in West Grove.

He was born in 1948 in Ridley Park, and raised Methodist. A graduate of Chester High School, he was former president of the Concord Area JC’s, focusing on community outreach and fundraising. Before relocating to West Grove 19 years ago from Aston, he owned Showalter Associates General Contracting Company. He was always there for family and friends, and loved and provided for his wife, children and grandchildren. He loved going to the mountains, hunting and fishing, staying busy in his workshop, and doing projects for his family’s homes.

Survivors include his adoring wife, Bette Showalter; loving children William “Billy” Showalter (Cheryl) and Lynn Rogers; sisters Ruth Voss and Charlotte Clark (Ron); three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Oct. 25 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Foulk Funeral Home (200 Rose Hill Rd., West Grove), followed by a 10 a.m. memorial service. In lieu of flowers, send memorial contributions to the American Heart Association, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY, 13220-3049.

ROBERT KING, JR.

Robert King Jr., 51, of Yorklyn, Del., passed away on Oct. 16, surrounded by his loved ones. 

He was the husband of Tabitha (Best) King, with whom he shared almost 24 years of marriage. Robert was born in Elkton, Md., to the late Kathleen and Robert King. He graduated from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology with an associate’s degree in electronics. Robert was an assembler for AMT and Synthes for many years and worked for GE. He loved the U.S. Navy, touring battleships and aircraft carriers, building models and watching anything to do with the subject. Robert’s greatest love was his son, Alexander, with whom he spent much of his time.  Alexander describes his dad as “everything good in one person.” Robert loved Thanksgiving with all the trimmings and listened to Christmas music all year long.

Robert is survived by his wife, Tabitha; his son, Alexander; “his girls” Greta and Kira Dzedzy; Goddaughters, Kellyanne and Dana Palmer; Godsons, Logan Palmer and Keith Ross; his buddy Cooper Smith; six sisters, Ann, Debbie, Patty, Robin, Pearl and Becky; one brother, Ronald; numerous, beloved nieces and nephews; and countless friends. He was preceded in death by one sister, Vicky.

A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 22 at Kuzo Funeral Home (250 W. State St., Kennett Square). His funeral service will follow at noon. Interment will be at Union Hill Cemetery. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

DR. WILLIAM J. STEGEMAN

Dr. William Jackson Stegeman, 77, passed away peacefully, and surrounded by loved ones, on Oct. 13 at the Friends Home in Kennett Square.

He was born in 1942 and raised in Rochester, N.Y. He was a popular student and an avid swimmer, winning many awards on his school swim teams. Growing up he also enjoyed boating, camping, youth groups, and singing in his church choir. Bill graduated from John Marshall High School in 1960. He attended the University of Maine, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in botany. It was there that he met his wife, Elizabeth Ann Thomas of Ocean Park, Maine, and they were married in 1962.

Bill went on to earn his master’s degree in botany from the University of Massachusetts, where he worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He earned his PhD in microbiology from Rutgers University, and completed his post-doc work in immunology at Temple University. Soon thereafter, while working at Cappell Laboratories in Cochranville, he discovered how to manufacture a product which inspired him to found Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, Inc., in 1982. He started the company in a room in a neighbor's barn, then moved to a rented building in Avondale, where he expanded into an international corporation, then finally to the headquarters he built in Jennersville. He was particularly interested in advancing cancer research.

Although Bill always considered New England his home, he spent most of his adult life in Kemblesville, Landenberg, and most recently, New London, until he retired at Jenner's Pond and then Friends Home in Kennett Square.

Bill enjoyed many hobbies, including scuba diving, traveling, gardening, stargazing, photography, trap shooting, playing his violin, sampling microbrews, attending classical music concerts, and bicycling with his team, Riders for Research. He especially loved spending time with his growing family and his diverse group of friends. He was beloved by everyone that met him as he was warm, kind, witty, modest, and generous. His altruistic nature led him to support many organizations including the University of Delaware, The Arts at Trinity, Music School of Delaware, Jennersville YMCA, SCC Youth Shooting League, St. Jude's Children Hospital, Lighthouse Youth Center, Hockessin United Methodist Church, and the Brandywine Valley SPCA.

He is survived by daughter Amy Louise Stegeman of New London; son James Raymond Stegeman (Linda) of Montgomery, Texas; two grandsons James Andrew Stegeman also of Montgomery and Thomas Jackson Stegeman of Harrison, Maine; two granddaughters; and one great-granddaughter.  His wife, Bette, passed away in 2007. He was also predeceased by his father Raymond Frederich Ernst Stegeman; mother, Marian Jackson Stegeman Neary; and brother, Frederick Ernst Stegeman.

Because Bill did not wish to have any type of memorial service, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org; the Parkinson's Foundation at parkinsons.org; Humanity Gifts Registry of PA at hgrpa.org; or the American Cancer Society at cancer.org.