Smyrna times., 1931-08-19
DEATH RECORD OF WEEK
DR.. Harry Roche Spruance, Native
Smyrnian and Prominent Will
mington Physician, Passes Away

4 Dr. Harry tIOCHe 0pl udHCt, dStu
65. native Smyrnian, who became
one of Wilmington's outstanding
physicians, died at Jefferson Hos
pital, Philadelphia, shortly before
nine o'clock Friday night from a
relapse following a major opera
ton at that hospital. DR.. Spruance
had not been in good health for a
number of months and went under
the knife with the hope it would
restore him to better health. His
death, coming under these circum-
stances, is deeply mourned. DR..
Spruance was born in Smyrna on
January 2, 1866 and was son of
Henry Clay and Hannah (Woodall
Spruance, and a grandson of Enoch
and Anne Wakeman Spruance. His
father was a merchant and vet
eran of the Civil War, serving in
the Sixth Delaware Regiment. His
mother, who died on December IL,
1914, was a member of an old
family, some of her ancestors hav-
ing served in the Revolutionary
War. DR.. Spruance was educated
in the Smyrna school and under
private tutors in Philadelphia. He
studied medicine at Jefferson Med
ical College where he graduated
with the degree of Doctor of Med
icine in 1892. In the same year
he began the practice of medicine
in Wilmington. He was member
of the American Medical Associa-
ton, the Delaware State Medical
Society, and the New Castle Coun-
ty Medical Society. He was also
a member of the Masonic order
and the Sons of the American Rev
olution. After practicing medicine
in Wilmington for more than 50
years, DR.. Spruance retired few
years ago, and spent his entire
time travelling with Mrs. Spruance.
He began the practice of medicine
after his graduation from the JEFF
ferson Medical College, in 1892.
He was also proprietor of a drug
store at Eighth and Lombard
Streets, Wilmington, for several
years. Since his retirement from
active practice twelve years ago,
he had made his home with Mrs.
Spruance and his niece, Miss Al
ethia Spruance, at HOO Broom
street. DR.. Spruance is survived
by his wife, Mrs. Natalie Simpson
Spruance, whom he married in
1906. She is the daughter of
Francis E. and Emeline Coxey
Simpson. The only child born to
DR.. and Mrs. Spruance died in in
fancy. Others surviving him are
two sisters, Misses Mary and Emily
Spruance, of Smyrna; and the fol-
lowing nieces and nephews, DR..
Horace Spruance of San Diego,
Calf, retired navy physician;
Owen E. Spruance, of San Antonioi
Texas; Mrs. Harold Schabinger, of
FELTON,, Del; Miss Alethia Spru-
ance, of Wilmington; Mrs. Frank
r. Pool, of Pittsburgh, and Miss
Louise Spruance, of New York
City. The services were held at
2.30, Monday afternoon from the
late home of DR. Spruance, with
the Rev. r. K. Stephenson, Smyr-
ma, retired Methodist Episcopal
minister, officiating Interment was
made at Wilmington and Brandy
wine Cemtery. Close personal
friends, members of the medical
fraternity, were pail bearers.
William G. Parvis, Dover Merchant
William G. Parvis who operated
grocery store at the corner Of
Division and New Streets, Dover,
died at his home in Dover Sun
day afternoon after lingering i'll
ness of several months. Had he
lived until next Saturday he would
have been SO. He is survived by
his widow, Mrs. Effie Section Par
Wis, and two children, a son and
StINlICS W.T. e
held this Wednesday, afternoon
at 1.30, with interment at Odd Eel
lows Cemetery, Camden. Mr.. Par
Wis was a member of Dover Coun-
Gil, No. 27, Jr. o. u. A. M.
Mr.. and Mrs. Van PeIt Lose Infant
John Russell Van Pelt, infant son
of Jay Van Pelt and Anna Robin
son Van Pelt, died last Thursday
morning at 730. The baby was
four months and five days old.
Funeral services were held on Fri
day afternoon at o'clock and in
terment made at Glenwood Gem
etery. Rev. r. X. Stephenson of
ficiated.
MIR. and Mrs. Mills, Lose Daughter
Phyllis Virginia Mills, aged three
months and twenty-seven days,
daughter of Peter Mills and the
late Evelyn Palmer Mills Of Tenn
pleville, Nd, died yesterday. Fun
eral services were held today, We'd
nesday, at 3 o'clock. Rev. E. r.
I ClOugh officiated