Prudence (Wyatt) Chance (1930 - 2016)

Born 1 Sep 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Died 8 Oct 2016 at age 86 in Newark, New Castle, Delaware, United States

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Biography

Prue Chance age 86, of Newark, DE, passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at Millcroft Senior Living in Newark, DE. Born September 1, 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri, Prue was the daughter of the late A. Earl Wyatt and Marie Fielding Martin.

When her mother died, her father remarried Geraldine Meyer. Prue was educated in the St. Louis Public Schools. Her family moved to Newark in 1944. Her stepmother, a pioneering executive woman, became Director of Placement Services at the University of Delaware. Prue graduated from Newark High School and completed her BA in Education at the University.

She spent her working life as a first grade teacher at Jennie Smith Elementary School, Newark Public Schools System.

Prue's first love was horses. In 1949, she married Joseph "Joe" Leahy, whose parents had a farm on Valley Road. The horse saga began. In 1959, Prue was one of the founders of The Delaware Pony Club, establishing a formal USPC Chapter at Felix duPont's "Carousel Farm" on Limestone Road, with British Horsemaster, Billy Sabine. This followed the lead and ever-present support of Patricia "Patsy" duPont, who founded The Fair Hill Pony Club in 1954 in nearby Fairview, Maryland.

Prue was also an avid golfer, reader, and bridge player. She held a lifelong interest in music, and painting, taking lessons for years at Delaware Art Museum from Russ McKinney. She was best known, however, for her gardens, irresistible desserts, and generosity.

After the passing of her first husband, Prue married Elbert "El" Chance in 1982. He worked for University of Delaware for 50 years, Alumni Services, and as Stadium Announcer, "the voice of the Fighting Blue Hens" football team.

In addition to her parents, stepmother, and first husband, she was predeceased by her husband Elbert Chance, who died a month earlier, her brother, Roger Wyatt, and daughter, Patricia Leahy MacAllister, in 2004.

She is survived by two daughters, Margaret Leahy and Christine Leahy, two stepdaughters, Susan Chance Rainwater and Karen Chance, son-in-law, Paul MacAllister, brother-in-law, Gerald Leahy, and fourteen nieces and nephews, especially Maureen Leahy Remedio, who helped provide comfort for Prue and Elbert. In St. Louis, she has a cousin Anne Travis O'Connell, and another cousin Sally Meyer in Potomac Falls, VA.

Services will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church of Newark, 292 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19711. Friends and family may visit one hour prior beginning at 10AM. Burial will be held at Head of Christiana Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to Delaware Humane Association, 701 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. To send an online condolence, please visit www.rtfoard.com. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Published in The News Journal from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25, 2016

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 20 December 2020), memorial page for Prudence “Prue” Wyatt Leahy Chance (1 Sep 1930–8 Oct 2016), Find a Grave Memorial no. 170978679, citing Head of Christiana Church Cemetery, Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, USA ; Maintained by Susan Rainwater (contributor 47264983) .