Tessie Gail Northrup, 92, passed away on Thursday, October 12, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital.

Born on November 25, 1924 in Elkins, WV, to parents H. Strader Phares and Lena Meadows Phares, Tessie was the eldest of 6 children. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Eugene Gilford Northrup; her parents; 3 sisters, Fara Beth Phares, Joan James, and Charlene Kaye Wilmoth; and 2 brothers, K. Marc Phares and Strader W. Phares. Tessie is survived by sons Kevin Lee Northrup of Randlestown, MD, and Bruce Alan Northrup and his wife Roberta Saltzberg of Arlington, MA. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews across the country.
Tessie graduated from Fairmont (WV) High School in 1942. After the family moved back to Elkins she attended Davis & Elkins College for a year and volunteered at the U.S. Army Mountain Training Center near Elkins. It was here that she met her future husband, Gene, who was training for deployment into WW2 and eventual D-day landing in Normandy. Tessie & Gene were married on March 10, 1944, at Ft. Dix, NJ.

After the war they settled in Seaford, DE and joined Mt. Olivet Methodist church where she was a longtime member of the church choir. Tessie worked alongside Gene at the Diamond State Telephone Company for several years and then became a mainstay at the Sears Roebuck Store in Seaford for almost 20 years. 

She was a den mother for the cub scouts, a faithful supporter of the Boy Scouts, and was a guiding influence to both of her sons becoming Eagle Scouts.

Tessie supported all of Seaford High School sports teams and student activities through the years. She was a longtime member of the Acorn Club and the Wilmar Village Knitting Circle. She also enjoyed needlepoint, travel and classical music. In her later years Tessie was an avid TV follower of PBS shows like "Masterpiece, Doc Martin and the Britcoms."

Most of all Tessie cherished her extended FAMILY, maintaining contact as best she could with even distant relatives across the USA.

Tessie was a good friend to all with a smile and a cheerful greeting for anyone she met. She will be dearly missed and remembered by her loving family and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in Seaford at 1pm on Saturday, October 21, followed by a reception in the church hall. 

In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations to Mt. Olivet UMC or any the Puerto Rican relief funds

 Service Information