Seward Lenderman Jones, Sr., of Longwood, Florida and Greater Wilmington, Delaware, loving husband, father, brother, and son, passed this world on January 27, 2025.
He was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1931. Soon after, the family moved to Lindamere, Delaware. Seward graduated from P.S. DuPont High School, Wilmington, Delaware, in 1949, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1953 from the University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Attending night classes, he earned his Masters of Science, Mechanical Engineering, from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, in 1960.
Upon graduation from the University of Delaware, Seward went to work for Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Lester, PA, designing blades for power generation steam turbines. He advanced several times in his work with Westinghouse (later Siemens), eventually supervising construction and installation of/upgrades to steam turbines at sites throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
As a student of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Delaware, Seward was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve in 1954. He trained as a battery commander in the Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, and was assigned to the 19th AAA Battalion, Fort Dix, New Jersey, in July 1954. First Lieutenant Jones served as Battery Commander for “D” Battery, stationed near Woodbury, New Jersey, defending the Atlantic approaches to Philadelphia and New York, until July 1956, when he returned to work at Westinghouse in Lester, PA.
On June 12, 1954, he wed the love of his life, Normalee (Lee) Crowe, at Grace Methodist Church in Wilmington, Delaware. They welcomed their first son, Seward Jr., in 1955 (Woodbury NJ), and their second son, Thomas Benton, in 1959 (Delaware Hospital, Wilmington). He was an engineer who traveled the world for work, but who always was in a hurry to come home to his family.
Living in Claymont, Seward served as a father counselor in the YMCA Indian Guides, a Boy Scout Troop Committee member, assistant coach in Claymont Independent Baseball League, and a Claymont High School Band Booster. Together
with Lee, he taught fourth grade Sunday school at Grace United Methodist Church for many years. Seward was also a member of the Claymont (DE) Lions Club from 1976 to 1981.
In 1981, Westinghouse moved its power generation operations to Orlando, Florida, and Seward and Lee moved with them in 1982, settling in Casselberry. He retired from Siemens in 2003. They also joined the Asbury United Methodist Church, Maitland, FL, where Seward remained a member until his passing.
When his loving wife of almost 50 years was stricken with Alzheimer’s in 1986, he spent every moment away from work caring for her and making sure that her needs were met. He left every day from work to feed her lunch at her inpatient facility. Seward was devoted to Lee’s care until her passing in 2002. Before and after her passing, Seward served as a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC) in Winter Park, FL. There he assisted others experiencing the living loss of a loved one. Finally, after Lee’s passing, Seward volunteered with the Seminole County Environmental Studies Center, providing information to visitors.
He is survived by two sons (Seward Jr., aka “Skip,” and Thomas Benton (“Thom”) and their wives (Marjy and MaryBeth), four grandchildren (Robert, Kathleen, Brady, and Hannah), and three great-grandchildren (Gabriel, Lyncoln, and Theodore, aka “Teddy”).
A visitation will be held at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, in Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday, February 28, beginning at 9:00 AM. A memorial service will be held there at 11:00 AM, followed by interment at Newark Union Church and Cemetery, Newark Union Public Road (off Baynard Blvd. between Marsh and Shipley Roads), Wilmington DE.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Seminole County (FL) Environmental Studies Center, 2985 Osprey Trail, Longwood, FL 32750; or the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC), 1410 Grove St., Winter Park, FL 32789.
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