BANGOR – Arvilla (Val) Delano, the loving and devoted soul mate of Dean S. Delano for 50 years, passed away Nov. 20, 2009, at her daughter and son-in-law’s home. Val was born in Lewiston, the daughter of Cecil L. Barnes and Alice Campbell. At two years of age, she was adopted by Synette S. Thayer of Hermon. Val was valedictorian of the graduating Class of 1941 from Hermon High School. She was a five-year member of 4-H Club and leader for two years during high school. She later graduated from Eastern Academy of Beauty Culture and State of Maine Aircraft School. During World War II, she was a riveter and plexiglass worker in the sheet metal department at Dow Field with detachment service in Rome, N.Y., and Presque Isle. Val was a past member of Hermon Grange, Penobscot Pomona, Columbia Street Baptist Church and Tuscan Chapter No. 148 of Bangor. She was married to Dean Delano in 1946; they moved to Bangor in 1950, where they lived for 31 years before retiring to Florida in 1981. At the time of retirement, she was a corporate clerk and bookkeeper at Peavey Mfg. Co., Eddington. In Florida, they both enjoyed the same pursuits of landscaping, planting and lovingly tending a small grove of various fruit trees around their home. They returned to Maine when Dean became terminally ill in 1996. She is survived by her two daughters, Renee R. Delano of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Ronel Delano-Ellis and son-in-law, Gerald Ellis of Bangor; foster son, Grayling A. Wiley and his wife, Gail Pacillo Wiley of Gulfport, Fla.; grandchildren, Amy Bragg Brooks and her husband, Sean Brooks, of Orrington, Nicolas Gerald Ellis and Lucas Delano Ellis of Hanover, N.H., Gray J Wiley and Christopher Wiley of Gulfport, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Leah and Audra Brooks; a special nephew and niece, Rodney and Debbie Buswell and family; many nieces and nephews. At her request, there will be no memorial service and all who knew her may remember her in their own heart and own way. Gifts in her memory may be sent to Jerry Ellis Scholarship Fund, care of The University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469, to be awarded to low income, first generation college students. There will be a gathering for relatives and friends to remember Val, noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at her daughter’s home, 101 East Broadway, Bangor.
ARVILLA ‘VAL’ DELANO
