Beth Ellen (Cromie) Howlett's Obituary
Beth Ellen (Cromie) Howlett
Beth Ellen (Cromie) Howlett of Millsboro Delaware, 78, born January 4, 1947,
passed away unexpectedly on February 26, 2025.
Beth was a 1964 graduate of Ken High and a 1968 graduate of Gettysburg College with a degree in music. It was her ability to sing the highest note better than anyone that opened the door to Gettysburg College and their choir, and that choir took her around the world during her senior year. After graduation, she was to take a music teacher’s position at Absolom Jones school near Wilmington, where she met science teacher and future husband William Howlett. On their very first date, Bill told Beth she looked like a “Tigger.” She retorted with “then you must be a ‘Pooh Bear,’” which is what they continued to call each other over their 50-year marriage! Bill had taken an elementary school principal position in Millsboro before they started dating, but they planned to see each other again once he moved, so when Bill learned from the junior high school principal that their music teacher was retiring, he knew exactly who to recommend. Enter Beth Cromie to the Indian River School District. They married soon after her move to Sussex County.
Beth was a fun loving, intelligent, talkative person whom, with her husband, traveled to at least 15 countries multiple times, but her favorite place was Cape May, New Jersey where she visited at least once a year for every year of her life. Her parents, and later, her brother Dell Cromie, maintained a second home there and she was always ready to visit. As much as Beth loved going to Cape May when growing up and the wonderful beach for swimming, her real love was Christmas. She loved everything about it: decorating the largest tree she could get into the house (one got stuck in the hallway), wrapping presents, sending cards, singing Christmas carols, etc.
She then came up with the idea of a wine tasting party. She loved to entertain wine tasting parties at her home, which were legendary for 40 plus years. One rule Beth had was you had to dress with your finest if coming to the party. She had invited one of her classmates from her college days, and he came wearing a tux coat, but with tennis shoes on his feet! Everything at Christmas had to be fun. The singing of Christmas carols involved everybody. As the number of people joining the theatre group grew, so did the number of guests seen at the tasting parties. The party could go on to 2 A.M. in the beginning, but the Possums were getting older, as were the guests, so closing time became closer to 10 P.M. This tradition has been carried on by her daughter Meghan Wilson.
Beth had a beautiful soprano voice and loved to sing. In 1972, she was a founding member a theatrical troupe in which she sang and acted in numerous plays and revues. She had brought up the possibility of getting enough people together to form a theater group, and once they had 10 more, they named it the “Possum Point Players.” It took off and never stopped growing. This fall past, they celebrated 50 years and were presented the musical “ragtime,” which was staged again as one of the many plays and musicals during those 50 years. Both Beth with her beautiful voice, and Bill as an umpire, were in the cast.
Another of her many accomplishments was helping the Southern Delaware Chorale get its start in 1986. She was there at the beginning and had been looking forward to celebrating with the Chorale for their 40th year. The very large group has appeared over much of Sussex County.
Part of the reason Grandpop came to Millsboro from his Florida home was Grandmom Cromie had passed away. And, both daughter Beth and granddaughter Meghan enticed him to come. His happiness shown through as he was introduced to all of his daughter’s friends. He was seeing his daughter at her best and could not be any happier.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Ruth (Mason) Cromie in 1999. She is survived by her husband of 54 years Bill Howlett of Millsboro, DE; her daughter and son in law Sean and Meghan (Howlett) Wilson of Egg Harbor Twp., NJ; two grandchildren Alyssa and Kenneth Wilson; her brother and sister in law Dell and Linda (Zerblis) Cromie; three nephews Adam, Zachary, and Kellen Cromie, as well as numerous other cousins.
She will be missed.
A viewing will be held from 5 PM – 7 PM on Monday, March 10, 2025, at Watson Funeral Home and Crematorium, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro, DE 19966. A funeral will be held at Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium on Tuesday, March 11 at 3:00 PM with a viewing one hour prior.
Please visit Beth’s Life Memorial at www.watsonfh.com.
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