Gary B. Homewood

Gary Homewood, of Felton, passed away Friday, April 20, 2018, at Country Rest Home in Greenwood, he was 81. He was son to the late Ernest and Margaret Homewood.

Gary graduated from the University of Delaware in 1958 with a BS in Civil Engineering. His career started the same year with the Delaware Highway Department (now DelDOT). In 1961 he went to work for Sverdrup & Parcel, Consulting Engineers out of St. Louis, Missouri. He was fortunate to have an opportunity to work on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel project in Cape Charles, Virginia. In 1964 he was transferred to St. Louis for the construction of the Busch Memorial Stadium and was assigned as a field construction engineer.

Later in 1964 he was transferred to work in Cuidad Bolivar, Venezuela as a field engineer on the construction of a suspension bridge across the Orinoco River. In 1966 Gary was transferred to Jacksonville, Florida and assumed the duties of Project Engineer for construction inspection of a 3-mile section of the toll road containing 8 structures. Gary returned to DelDOT and was assigned to the Materials & Research Section as Materials Engineer in 1971. Gary was promoted to the position of Chief of Materials and in 1974 became the Chief of Maintenance, Division of Highways. In 1979 he assumed the role of Deputy Director of Highways (acting) until 1981. His final assignment at DelDOT was the role of Deputy Director of Operations, responsible for division-wide activities in construction, maintenance, traffic and field services.

After retiring from 27 years of service, Gary started his private engineering practice, Homewood Engineering, LLC.

During 1987 and into 1988, Gary was the initial president of the First State Section of the American Society of Highway Engineers. In 2006 Gary was inducted into the First State Highway Hall of Fame where he was recognized for his dedication, perseverance and commitment to excellence in building the roadways of Delaware.

Some of the distinguished memberships Gary held included the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Association of State and Highway & Transportation Engineers and Tau Beta Pi National Honorary Scholastic Engineering Society. Gary was Past Secretary/Treasurer of Delaware Asphalt Paving Association, past President of the Harrington Alumni Association, and a Delaware State Fair Director for 42 years.

Gary’s interest outside of work included being a private pilot of his single engine plane and enjoyed the time he spent flying his Cherokee Piper airplane. He spent countless hours talking to people all over the world as an amateur radio operator and held an advanced license. Gary was very active at Asbury United Methodist Church in Harrington for many years.

Gary was devoted to his family and is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Eleanor Homewood; sons, Mark (Sonja) Homewood, Glenn Homewood; daughter, Elaine Test (Greg Cagle); sister, Jeanne (Gordon) Warner; grandchildren, Travis (Jenna) Test, Kenneth Test(Sydney Leslie), David Homewood, Lindsay Homewood and Morgan Homewood(Daniel Johnson); great grandchildren, William, Kaitlyn and Colt.

Services will take place at the Melvin Funeral Home, 15522 South DuPont Hwy., Harrington, DE, on Monday 23, at 1PM with a visitation starting at 11 AM. Interment will take place at Hollywood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at: https://www.lbda.org/ways_to_give

Arrangements are by the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home, Harrington, DE.  Visit us at www.melvinfuneralhome.com to sign condolence book.

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