Ira D. Coover, Sr.
June 17, 1929 - April 30, 2019
Ira D. Coover, Sr., age 89, of Newark, DE, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.
Born in Glen Mills, PA on June 17, 1929, he was a son of the late James Thaddeus and Helen Mae Hoyle Coover. Ira lived his childhood years with his uncle Dale Andrew Norris and aunt Ethel Coover Norris. He attended Conrad High, Brown Vocation Mechanical Course and earned his GED. Ira furthered his education with Troy Michigan Hydraulics School, Flight school, Barber school, Fire School (for fire fighting & first aid). He started working at age 14 and worked for nearly 70 years. A renaissance man, he worked as a carpenter, welder, glass welder, millwright, licensed stationary engineer, laboratory technician, licensed barber, and many other jobs. Most of Ira’s life he worked with Dupont Company, retiring after 34 years.
A love of the outdoors, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, scuba diving, free diving, taxidermy, spear fishing, skeet shooting, flying airplanes, water skiing, and running 3 miles a day for many years. Ira was a Del State Duck Calling Champion, and both Del State and Tristate Spearfishing Champion. Ira loved Broadkill Beach where he built a summer home and enjoyed it for 47 years. Collectively he built 3 houses and renovated 3 while working full time at his regular job. He invented two tools; one is still being used today. Ira loved all kinds of music, especially Bluegrass. He played the harmonica, guitar, and 5 string banjo. When he was young, he was quite a good dancer. Ira accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, was baptized Methodist. He tried and succeeded at setting a good example for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was loved and adored by his family and friends.
In addition to his parents, Ira was preceded in death by 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Ira is survived by his wife of 71 years, Jean; son, Ira Dale Jr.; daughters, Iris Jean Coover, Tambra Jane Evans, Ellen Claire Bossert (Vinton); grandsons, George Burton Codding II, Richard Lee Codding, Samuel Douglas Reeder, Ira Dale Coover III, Joseph Ernest Coover, Blake Vinton Coover Bossert and Daniel Joel Coover Bossert; one great-grandson, Harvest LaRocque Codding; and great-granddaughters, Jane Peyton Bossert, Sadie Joanna Bossert, and Theodora Rose Codding.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 am until 12 noon, on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 12 noon. Interment will follow in Glebe Cemetery, New Castle, DE.
Mary Thomas
My deepest condolences in the passing of Mr. Coover. Blake would always sharing many stories of his PopPop Coover and all the memories at Broadkill Beach. Please know you are in my prayers at this difficult time.
Judy Daniels
So very sorry, to hear of Uncle Dale’s passing. I have so many wonderful memories of him. The smile on his face and the twinkle in his eyes with be missed. We were all blessed to know him. Prayers for family.
Stacey Lehman
I’m very sorry to hear about Uncle Ira. He was always a wonderful man and so caring to everyone.
I will be thinking of Aunt Jean and the rest of the family.
Love,
Stacey & Kevin Lehman
Gail Eller
May God Bless you, and May You Rest In Peace Uncle Ira, you will surely be missed by all.
Love Your Niece,
Gail (Boyer) Eller
Iris
I love you Daddy. Safe travels
Joyce Thomas
Uncle Ira you certainly brought joy to my life every time I was lucky enough to spend time with you. May God bless you and your entire family. I will forever hold you dear to my heart. I will really miss my dance partner. thinking of you Aunt jean. You and your family are in tim and my prayers.
Your niece joyce and tim Thomas
Tina Coover Ramsey
I’m sorry to hear about Uncle Ira. He always reminded me of my Pop Pop, Fred, his brother. Prayers are with Aunt Jean and the family.
James F. Coover
You will be sadly missed Uncle Ira and I will keep my memories of you close to my heart.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Aunt Jean and your family at this very difficult time.
Love, Jim
Dale Coover jr
My condolences. Nothing I can say will make it hurt any less. So stay safe and keep his memory close. Dale Jr
Brenda and George Reynolds
We were so sad to hear of Dale’s passing. What wonderful memories we have of the bonfires at Broadkill Beach where Dale would play his harmonica. He was a true friend and wonderful neighbor to our family for many years. Jean and family please know that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Bryan Boyer
Aunt Jeanie, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and all of the Coover family at this time of loss.. Uncle Ira was a very kind and loving person, who I looked up to and inspired me with all of his knowledge. One of the many things that I admired about him was that he was always willing to share that knowledge and much more… all of those long hunting stories, playing his harmonica and his banjo . My heart was touched by him in so many good ways…you will always be loved and never forgotten. May God be with you! Your nephew, Bryan Boyer
Vernon & Betty Abrams
We are so sorry to learn of Ira’s passing.
He was a lifetime friend and so special to our families.
We never know when our Lord will need to call us home.
We are praying for your comfort and well being.
Our condolences for your loss.
God Bless you and your family.
Vernon & Betty Philhower Abrams
DR JOHN A COOVER
IRA CALLED ME ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND I THOUGHT ABOUT HIM EVER SINCE TO CALL HIM BACK AND CHECK ON HIM. THE COOVERS WERE ALL RELATED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BECAUSE OUR ANCESTORS WERE THE STOCK AND BLOOD THAT SETTLED THIS GREAT COUNTRY SHORE TO SHORE COAST TO COAST. LIKE IRA I WAS A DIVER,HUNTER AND ENJOYED NATURE JUST AS HE DID. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED OUR VISIT WITH IRA IRA AND JEAN IN DELAWARE MANY YEARS AGO. MY PRAYERS WILL BE OFFERED IN ST MARKS EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL HASTINGS NEBRASKA FOR IRA AND JEAN & FAMILY.