Julia Elizabeth Lank
- Born: Aug 30, 1916, Seaford, Sussex County, Delaware
- Marriage: Joseph Manning Price Sr. on Oct 22, 1938 in Mt. Olivet M. P. Church, Seaford, Sussex Co., DE by Rev. Edw. E. Coleman
- Died: Apr 5, 2008, Salisbury, MD at age 91
- Buried: Apr 10, 2008, Seaford Odd Fellows Cmtry
Cause of her death was major devastating stroke 7 days previous.
General Notes:
Julia Lank Price, 91, one of Seaford's oldest residents, died Saturday, April 5th, 2008, in Salisbury, MD, at Coastal Hospice at the Lake. She had been transferred there from Peninsula Regional Medical Center on Thursday night. Julia had suffered a major stroke in her Seaford home on Saturday morning, March 29th, 2008. Until that morning Julia possessed a magnificent memory, enjoyed regular activities and living independently. On Easter Sunday she had hosted the annual Easter family gathering at home. Along with the Thanksgiving family gathering, these family events were something she thoroughly enjoyed.
Julia was the daughter of Albert J. and Lizzie Hayman Lank. Her father owned a confectionary, tobacco and sporting goods store-A.J. Lank & Brother--in the old Coulborn block on High Street, which featured the town's first soda fountain in 1906. Mr. Lank was Seaford's first appointed rural mail carrier and retired in 1934 after thirty years. He then was elected to the town council, serving for six years, after which he was appointed Seaford's magistrate, serving for eight years. The Lanks have been an integral part of Sussex County shipbuilding and farming since the early 1700s, combining their children and their talents with the families of Haymans, Grahams, Parsons, Coulborns, and others.
As a child Julia grew up with three older brothers -- Herb, Bill and Harry -- in her parents' house on Pennsylvania Avenue in the part of Seaford west of the railroad tracks that was called Nanticoke City at that time. Cousins Mildred and Hayman Lank came to stay there also after their father died of the Spanish flu in 1917 and their mother was unable to attend to them. Hayman later stayed with Frank and Mary Lank. Julia remembered fondly the tea parties with her mother, using the small tablecloths and napkins they had embroidered together and winning several blue ribbons for them at the State Fair in Harrington.
Julia graduated from Seaford High School in 1934 in a class of 43. Following graduation Julia stayed in Philadelphia at the home of brother Bill and wife Lib, working the summer as clerk-typist at Lukens Steel. After she left that job, Julia began taking the #13 trolley downtown each morning to seek other jobs at the Townsend Employment Agency. She secured a job as typist with Motor Credit, earning an average of $28 weekly, based on the multiple of 100 envelopes typed. That same year Julia enrolled at Drake Business School and lived with cousin Mildy and husband Bill North in Milltown, NJ, near New Brunswick. While there she worked at Zonite Corp., maker of Forhan's Toothpaste, as a typist earning $15 a week. Finding it hard to make ends meet at this wage, Julia secured a job in the mailroom at the DuPont Company. During this time, she stayed at the YWCA in Wilmington. On a tip from her brother Harry, Julia then moved to Dover, working as a typist at International Laytex for eleven months. Here she roomed at first with Lib Lewis, RN, who later married Carl Utz, the cousin of her husband-to-be. Then she found accommodations with brother Harry while his wife Lib worked in Seaford as a teacher during the week days. Julia spent weekends in Seaford.
In 1938 Julia returned home to Seaford, married Joseph Price and began keeping house. Daughter Joan arrived in July 1940. In 1943, during WWII, Julia worked in Seaford at the local Selective Service Board with Joan Burton. Both quit at the same time in May 1943 while pregnant, with Joan delivering daughter Mary Helen in early January and Julia delivering son Joseph, Jr., or Buddy, later in the month. (Both later married, coincidentally.) Son Harry arrived in February 1945 while Joe was away in the Army. On 1 Feb. 1966 Julia started work as clerk at Justice of the Peace Court #4 in Seaford, retiring there 20 years later on her 70th birthday, 30 Aug. 1986.
Julia was quite fond of all her brothers. Her brother and pal Harry passed away during surgery at the early age of 31. Brother Herb became chairman of DuPont of Canada, while brother Bill became president of Farmers National Bank of Bloomsburg, PA. Julia was very proud of their accomplishments.
Julia loved to write poems, probably a talent from her grandmother, Hester Parsons Hayman of Parsonsburg. She also liked the Sunday crossword puzzle, which she completed during the week.
Julia's ex-husband, Joseph M. Price, passed away in 1993. She never remarried. Julia was the last surviving child of A.J. and Lizzie Lank. Along with her wonderful neighbors, her friends in Seaford and elsewhere, her brothers' and cousins' families, Julia is survived by the families of her three children: daughter Joan and husband Bob Simpson of Salisbury, MD; son Joseph and wife Mary Helen Price, of Newark, DE, and son Harry and wife Brenda Price, of Beltsville, MD. Their families include nine grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Julia was the oldest member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church in Seaford.
She was in possession of the blue luster "Elizabeth" pitcher, handed down from Elizabeth to Elizabeth on mother's side, originating or pre-dating Elizabeth Parker, b. 1673. Julia had been an invaluable resource for this Lank family history report.
Julia married Joseph Manning Price Sr., son of Joseph Neal Price and Goldie Mae Thompson, on Oct 22, 1938 in Mt. Olivet M. P. Church, Seaford, Sussex Co., DE by Rev. Edw. E. Coleman. (Joseph Manning Price Sr. was born on Apr 28, 1917 in Seaford, Sussex County, Delaware, died on Dec 2, 1993 and was buried in Seaford Odd Fellows Cmtry.). The cause of his death was congestive heart failure.
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