Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Wills PASSMORE
Wills Passmore, farmer and agricultural preservationist, died on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. He was 88.
A lifelong resident of Delaware, Wills was born in Wilmington on August 25, 1927, the son of Pusey and Dora McKee Passmore. He grew up working on his father's dairy farm on Concord Pike, known as Lynthwaite Farm. In the 1930s and 1940s, the farm produced and delivered milk in the Wilmington area, and later operated Lynthwaite Farm Ice Cream serving delicious homemade ice cream to generations of Wilmingtonians.
Wills attended Wilmington Friends School (class of 1945), and would have celebrated his 70th high school class reunion with former classmates in late October.
In 1953, he married Joanne Ouweneel (1927-2005), who was his wife and business partner for 52 years. In 1963, the couple bought a farm in New Castle County south of Odessa, which was also named Lynthwaite Farm. Together, they owned and operated the farm until her death in 2005. They were instrumental in helping establish agricultural preservation districts in Delaware, and permanently preserved Lynthwaite farmlands for agriculture and its forests and marshlands for wildlife.
In 2006, he married Grace Shorts Caulk, a farmer from Woodside, DE, and fellow Grange member. Together, they continued to be active in the statewide agricultural community, and maintained Lynthwaite's historic barns and farmhouse dating to the early 1800s.
Wills was a leader in the Grange, 4-H and numerous agricultural and community organizations. He was the past master of the Delaware State Grange (1980-1986) and a past trustee of the University of Delaware. He was appointed to the state Farmland Evaluation Advisory Committee by Governor Thomas Carper (1995-1998, 1999-2002), to the Governor's Advisory Committee on Farmland Preservation by Governor Pete Dupont (1980), and to the Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation by Governor Michael Castle (1991-1993).
A Quaker, Wills attended Appoquinimink Meeting in Odessa. He was the heart and anchor of that modest place of worship for many years, helping to preserve its facilities and spiritual community.
Wills' stewardship of the land, dedication to living a productive life, and unfailing fair-mindedness made his little corner of the world a better place. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends and community.
He is survived by his wife of nine years, Grace Caulk Passmore; daughter Cynthia Passmore Rolfe and husband Andy Rolfe; daughter Judith Passmore; daughter Susan Passmore and husband Malcolm Bedell; grandson Derek Wills McLaughlin; and step-granddaughters Annie and Catherine Rolfe.
A memorial service in the manner of Friends will be held on Sunday, October 25th at 2 p.m. at the Odessa Fire Hall, 304 Main Street, Odessa, DE. A reception nearby will follow the service.
Donations in Wills' memory can be made to either: Appoquinimink Meeting House Fund c/o Wilmington Monthly Meeting, Wilmington Friends Meeting, 401 N West St, Wilmington DE 19801 (Please note that the contribution is for preservation of Appoquinimink Preparatory Meeting in memory of Wills Passmore.) or Wilmington Friends School (for Financial Aid or Class of 1945 Fund) Alumni/Development Office, 101 School Road, Wilmington, DE 198
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