Elmer W. Dill Jr.

Elmer W. Dill, Jr., age 85, of Townsend, DE, passed away on Friday, December 31, 2021.

Born in Wilmington, DE, on February 13, 1936, he was the son of the late Elmer W. and Elida (Hudson) Dill, Sr. After high school and a time at the University of Delaware studying engineering, Elmer enlisted in the US Navy completing basic training at Bainbridge, MD and was assigned to COMPHIBPAC out of San Diego, CA, as a naval musician from 1955-1959. After completing his enlistment Elmer transitioned into his lifelong vocation as a master carpenter. First as a union carpenter working on various sites throughout Delaware and Pennsylvania all the way to his own thriving business, Dill Construction.

Sports and athletics were major part in Elmer's younger life. He achieved Eagle Scout ranking and later was scoutmaster of a Boy Scout Troop. Elmer was a golf professional at Rock Manor and Wilmington Country Club for a time, gave up professional and returned to amateur status. He and Marge were members of Garrison Lake Golf Club in the 80's-90's. Elmer had numerous holes-in-one during his golfing career. He attacked everything with a passion, and in March 1985, he bowled a Perfect 300 game. In the Navy, he excelled at table tennis and represented his unit in many competitions in California. Growing up he was introduced to a shotgun and rifle and became an avid waterfowl hunter with wife, Marge and his younger brother, Ernie Dill. That proficiency transferred to trap shooting where they participated in many state shoots, from New York State to the Carolinas. Several years ago, Elmer started a biweekly trap shoot in the open field behind the home in Townsend with many local shooters participating.

The next longest and perhaps most colorful and entertaining journey started in 1966 with his wife Diana Margaret and the combination of their 9 children. In those early years this blended group enjoyed many outdoor activities such as camping, boating, fishing, crabbing, sports and trap shooting. Summer places at White House Beach and Angola by the Bay were huge gathering places where the large extended family and friends would eat, drink, laugh, play cards, and enjoy fishing and clamming trips, water skiing and crabbing from a small fleet of "FOXEY LADY" named vessels!

As the family grew up and grew out, Elmer and Marge picked up motorcycle riding. They were Harley riders and enjoyed many biker events in Daytona and Myrtle Beach. Later in life, their motorcycling was mostly in Titusville, FL where they enjoyed events at the American Legion Post 1. Elmer and Marge owned a home in Titusville, FL and for the last 12 years made some very special and wonderful friends, Sam, Kathy/Jean, Jan and Bob/Ellie, Katina and Victoria and Ray & Randall Parker and others. Elmer is a member of the American Legion, Post 14 in Smyrna, DE

Elmer founded and directed the SWING CITY BAND, a group of wonderful musicians, that performed in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York State and South Carolina. He loved playing his trumpet and was still working on his "Double Hi C" before his passing. Special friend Walt Angney was always near to critique or praise. He also was a member of the Navy Musicians Association and served as music librarian for a time.

In later years, Elmer and Marge enjoyed traveling, golfing, sharing time between Delaware and Florida making new friends and enjoying old ones. They would pop in for a visit and help with family household projects. In those times Pop-Pop became somewhat of a dog whisperer with several beloved family pets.

Elmer was known to have strong, passionate, opinions of service, politics and country and even on a rare occasion it may have been said that he admitted he was wrong about something, though proof of that has eluded most of the family. Maybe that admission occurred while he attended American Legion events in Smyrna, DE or Titusville, FL…the world may never know!!!

The Townsend, DE home was conceived and designed by Elmer, who with the help of Marge, sons, and daughters, oversaw the construction. This was truly a family project.

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Diana Margaret (August) Dill;

CHILDREN: Steve Dill (Debbie) of Newark, Kenneth Dill of Wilmington, Chris Craig of Springdale, AR, Karen Coverdale Brown (Dennis) of Wilmington, Andrew "Rick" Craig (Anne) of Roanoke, VA, Rachel Talmo (Tony) of Townsend, Lisa Dill of Wilmington, and Les Craig (Kim) of Port Deposit, MD;

GRANDCHILDREN: Roxanna Deming (Scott) of Lewes, Nikki Marshall (Brett) of Middletown, Alexandra Dill of NYC, NY, Ashley Rising, (Randy) of Newark, Corri Coverdale (Nick Novello) of Jacksonville, NC, Jake and Max Tollenger of Port Deposit, MD, Megan Dill of Newark, Natalie Craig of Roanoke, VA, and Caroline Craig of Roanoke, VA;

GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Nicholas and Teagan Novello of Jacksonville, NC, Ryder Kauffman of Lewes, Chloe and Cambria Rising of Newark, and Lucas Tollenger of Port Deposit, MD;

SIBLINGS: Carolyn Murphy of Thornton, CO, Debbie Szostak (John) of Baltimore, MD, and Ernie Dill (Charmaine) of Townsend;

NIECES/NEPHEWS: John Szostak, Jr, (Lauren, Kevin, Megan) of Catonsville, MD, Jaime Dill, of Middletown, Jennifer Murphy (Meghan Moody) of Thornton, CO, Elizabeth Murphy of Phoenix, AZ, and Paul Szostak (Alix) Max, Stella of Chevy Chase, MD; and cousin, Dr. Howard Hudson (Pat) of Allentown, PA.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 East Main Street, Middletown, DE, where a memorial service will be held at 12:30 pm. Face coverings will be required for all those in attendance not immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine. Inurnment will follow in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Elmer's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516, or online by clicking here.