Loretta Desper

Loretta M. Desper, of Harrington, passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Bayhealth Sussex Campus, at the age of 87. One of 9 children, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Lona Wimer.

After growing up in West Virginia, through Delaware and Pennsylvania travels, Loretta retired to Harrington. She worked at Genesis in Milford in Housekeeping but she spent most of her adult life as a homemaker.

Loretta enjoyed a simpler life. She started her day off with a good cup of coffee and a sweet treat and watched The Young and the Restless with her son, Larry. Loretta, Larry and Jerry enjoyed cooking together and keeping her mind sharp with crossword puzzles. She adored her dogs, Spartacus and Maximus often sneaking food to them when she didn’t think others were looking. Loretta liked a clean house and one of her favorite sayings for her eldest son Jerry was “clean the floors”. Loretta was one of the strongest women you’d ever meet.

In addition to her parents, Loretta is preceded in death by her siblings, Katherine Stern, Buddy Wimer, William “Wink” Wimer, Charles Wimer, Edward Wimer, Richard Wimer, Albert Wimer, and Mildred Glass.

Loretta is survived by her sons, Gerald “Jerry” Brown and Larry E. Brown; a niece she was especially fond of, Nancy Daniel and several other nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Loretta’s honor to: Chapter Nine Cat Rescue, P O Box 543, Camden DE 19934 or Whimsical Animal Rescue, P. O. Box 1697, Seaford, DE 19973.

A Visitation will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home Inc, 15522 S. DuPont Hwy., Harrington DE at 11:30 AM. A graveside service will follow at 1 PM at the Delaware Veterans Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro DE.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home Inc, Harrington.