Delphia L. (Nevils) Proctor

Mrs. Delphia Lou Proctor (née Nevils), 93, died peacefully in York, Penn. at Country Meadows Retirement Community on Feb. 24, 2015 at 7 p.m. She was preceded in death by her husband, David Proctor, in February of 1986.

The daughter of Alva and Mary (née Campbell) Nevils, Delphia was born on Dec. 20, 1921 in Harrogate, Tenn. The eighth of nine children in a farming family, she graduated from Powell Valley High School in 1940. She attended Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate for two years before World War II broke out, at which time she left college to work in an aircraft factory in Buffalo, N.Y. At the end of the war, she married her first husband, Robert Jay, Sr., settling first in Ainsworth, Neb., then moving to Bridgeport, where their two children were both. The family moved to Sidney in 1955 and the following year, Delphia took a position teaching second grade at South Ward Elementary, where she earned a reputation as a fun, well-liked teacher. During her 32-year tenure there, she went on to complete her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Elementary Education at Chadron State Teachers' College. She was also a member of Sidney United Methodist Church. 

After retiring in 1988, Delphia embarked upon several island travel adventures, visiting Hawaii, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the Caribbean. She then made her way to Alaska and after seeing the 49th state on vacation, she decided to move there. She settled in Wasilla, AK, where she was involved in the Presbyterian Church, the local senior center, and in her community as a surrogate "grandma" to two neighbor children, Katie and Allie Munson. Delphia lived in Wasilla for nine years before moving again, this time to be near her family in York, Penn. 

Delphia is survived by her son, Dr. Robert Jay, Jr., her daughter Elizabeth Stump, son-in-law Mark, granddaughters Katherine Tardiff (Neil), Audrey Duda (Robert), Patricia Daugherty, Valerie Chavez (Christian), grandson Johnathan Stump, and eleven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Breana Leigh. 

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at the family's convenience. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Boys Town, 200 Flanagan Boulevard, PO Box 8000, Boys Town, NE 68010. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York, PA is in charge of arrangements.

The family would like to thank the staff at Country Meadows for their care during Delphia's last years, and the nurses of Memorial White Rose Hospice Services for their compassionate and dignified care during her last days. God grant you rainbows after every storm, and for every tear a smile. Until we see each other, and until we meet again, may God's eye be ever on you. May he hold you in His hand.

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