William Minton

Delawareonline.com, 12/21/2008

William Gerald "Jerry" Minton, age 80, of Lewes, DE, formerly of Seaford died on Thursday, December 18, 2008.

Jerry was born in West Union, OH, the son of the late William Clinton Minton and Thelma Marie Lucas Minton. He graduated at the top of his class, joined the Army and was stationed in California where he played baseball for the Military Army League. He was Honorably Discharged on Sept. 27, 1947.

He played baseball for the Portsmouth Athletic Team in Ohio in 1950 and was recruited to the minor league in Louisville, KY in 1950 and played for the Philadelphia A's until 1952. During his professional baseball career he pitched a 15 inning no hitter game at the age of 23, he was inducted into the Eastern Shore League of Maryland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

Jerry owned a Service Station in Salisbury, MD, then took a job with Southern States and later took a management position with Southern States in Seaford. He then became self-employed poultry farmer until his retirement in 1990. He was awarded Outstanding Poultry Farmer on the Eastern Shore numerous times. After retirement he had success in breeding and racing standard bred harness horses.

He moved to Salisbury, MD to play ball and married his first wife, Marilyn Burke. They were married for 20 years and had 3 children William Dean Minton and his wife Michele, Cynthia Rae Hastings and husband Ronald, Christina Jo Minton.

His greatest accomplishments were being a father to 7, grandfather to 16, and great-grandfather to 2, all of which he loved and cherished next to his faith in God. He also led with 4 other families to start and build the Grace Baptist Church of Seaford and at the time of his death he was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Seaford.

Jerry is also survived by his second wife of 37 years, Doris Waller Minton, and her children, Donald Booth Jr, Robert Booth and his wife Michelle, Shelly Booth Wolfe and Terri Lee Faison; his grandchildren, Matthew Minton, Amanda Marinov, Katherine Elizabeth Minton, Schuyler Minton, Chelsea Helena Hastings, Kristopher Dean Bowman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jacob Ryan Huffard, Trisha Leigh Newcomer, Tracey Lee Dobson, Robert Ryan Booth, Tiffany Elizabeth Booth, Stephen Eric Wolfe, Brittany Taryn Abbott and Christopher Jerron Faison; great-grandchildren, Riya Marinov and Ashleigh Wolfe. Jerry is also survived by his brothers, Charles Minton, Billy Joe Minton, Samuel Minton and sisters, Eva Jean Young, Judy Dell Batts and Linda Sue Iglehart. He was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Richard Minton, William Clinton Minton Jr and Roger Minton and a sister, Edna Joyce Minton and a grandchild, Coty Lane Hastings.

Memorial Services will be on Monday, December 22 at 3 pm at St. John's United Methodist Church, Pine & Poplar Streets, Seaford.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations may be made to St. John's United Methodist Church, 300 N Pine St., Seaford, DE 19973; or Christ United Methodist Church, 510 S Central Ave., Laurel, DE 19956. Arrangements by the CRANSTON FUNERAL HOME, Seaford, DE.