Smyrna times., 1923-12-26
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
Aubrey Vandever, WelI-knOwn Will
mingtOn Insurance Man, Formerly
of Clayton, Dies of Heart Trouble


Aubrey Vandever, 67 years old, of !
1409 Delaware avenue, one of the
most genial and best-known men in
Wilmington, was stricken Wednesday
before noon at Fifth and Market
streets, Wilmington, with an attack
of heart trouble, dying shortly after
in the Delaware Hospital. Mr.. Van
dever was Wilmington agent for the
Mutual Life Insurance Company of
New York and was actively interested
in the affairs of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church. He was a special friend
of the children through his interest
ing "chalk talks" on Biblical sub
jects. Mr. Vandever, who had been
in the insurance business with the
Mutual Life more than twenty-five
years, had been to Fourth and Ship
ley streets, where he looked over the
Christmas trees and wreaths and was
on his way uptown. He stopped to
chat in his usual jovial way with
friends and had tarried for a moment
or two at Fifth and Market street,
when he reeled suddenly and toppled
unconscious into the street. William
Marion in an auto bearing a Pennsyl-
vania license saw Mr.. Vandever fall
and assisted in picking him up and
rushed him to the hospital. Mr.. Van
dever did not regain consciousness
and died a few minutes after his ar
rival at the hospital. Mr.. Vandever
prior to entering the insurance bust
ness had been chief clerk of the Del
aware railroad, at Clayton, under Su-
perintendent |. N. Mills. He was a
familiar figure at Sunday school meet
ings and other religious gatherings
throughout Delaware and the Eastern
Shore. His speciality was "chalk
talks" to illustrate Bible stories which
he told in his sunshiny way that grip
ped the interest of children. For
many years he had given such talks
at Brandywine Summit campmeeting.
An active Methodist, he had attended
nearly every session of Wilmington
Conference for twenty-five years or
more. He was member of Grace
NJ. +. Church and of Harmony Lodge
No. 13, A. F. and A. NJ. His home
was at 1909 Delaware avenue, where
he and his wife had apartments. Mr..
Vandever is survived by his wife, who
was Miss Addie Hoffecker, and
four children, Mrs. Benjamin Harrar,
of Oak Grove; Mrs. Edwin Huber, of
Wilmington; Mrs. Carl Ritz, of New
York City, and Aubrey Vandever, Jr.,
of Baltimore, Md. He is also sur
vived by two brothers H. w. Vande-
yer of Wilmington, and Jacob B. Van
dever of New York City, N. Y. Fun
eral services took place Saturday af-
ternoon from the residence of his
son-in-law, Edwin Huber, 22O1 Van
Buren Street, Wilmington, and inter
ment was in Wilmington and Brandy
wine cemetery.
! Frank Griffith, Former Smyrnian
Frank Griffith, aged SO, brother of
the late Price Griffith, died in Vine
land, N. j., last week, after linger-
ing illness of general debility. He
had been making his home, since the
death Of his wife, with his daughter,
Mrs. Annie Thompson at Vineland.
Mr.. Griffith spent his early life in and
about Smyrna, learning the trade of
printing as we'll as carrying on a
farm. Years ago he left Smyrna to
follow his trade and had been residing
in Philadelphia and other places. He
leaves a son: Sanford Griffith of near
Milford and two daughters, Mrs.
Annie Thompson of Vineland, N. j.,
and Mrs. Florence ROsin of Philadel-
phia. His remains were brought to