Michelle "Shelly" Deltuva, of Granite, died April 25, 2009, after a short illness. She was 58.

Born Oct. 11, 1950, in Baltimore, Mrs. Deltuva was the executive director of the Animal Welfare Society of Howard County for the past 16 years. She was the office administrator for Stewart Myers, D.V.M. for 20 years before going to Animal Welfare.

During her employment, the 55-year-old facility became a licensed veterinary clinic with a low-cost spay and neuter program, to help end the abuse and pet overpopulation that causes other shelters to euthanize an increasing number of pets.

Also instituted were weekly low-cost vaccine clinics and a no-kill adoption center for dogs and cats. Though no longer currently active at the shelter, Mrs. Deltuva started an annual "Tom Cat Tuesday" when cats could be neutered for $5. She was able to recruit veterinarians to volunteer their time to neuter and vaccinate many cats that would not have been neutered otherwise.

Mrs. Deltuva sheltered many animals that, because of health issues, would not have found a home without getting the medical attention she provided. If a family could not keep a pet because of financial reasons, she would give them medical attention and supplies for free so that they could keep their pet.

Mrs. Deltuva is survived by her daughter, Robin, and grandson, Taylor Deltuva, of Howard County; and her brother, Michael Deltuva, of Napa Valley, Calif.

Donations can be made to the Animal Welfare Society of Howard County, C/O Smith Barney, 1 Democracy Plaza, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20817-1573, attn: Steven West.

Edna W. Thompson

Edna Wessel Thompson, of Williamsport, and formerly of Clarksville, died April 25, 2009. She was 85.

She was born Aug. 5, 1923, in Scaggsville, and was the daughter of Edward and Margaret (Zeltman) Wessel. She was raised on the farm that is now part of the Maple Lawn Development.

A graduate of Clarksville High School in 1941, she was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, in Fulton, and was the great-granddaughter of its founding members. She served that parish as the superintendent of Sunday Schools in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Mrs. Thompson was also chairman of the church's annual Turkey Dinner, coordinating the serving of more than 1,000 meals in a night.

She married Willis T. Thompson on Jan. 13, 1945, and they owned a dairy farm in Simpsonville. After selling their farm, they moved to Clarksville, raised their three children, and started their own business, Willis T. Thompson Inc., located off of Johns Hopkins Road, in Laurel. Their business was originally a Southern States Store, but as the need for a farm and home center faded in that part of the county, the business was converted to Thompson's Liquor and Deli. She and her husband ran their business with their two sons and their families. In the 1990s, she retired from the business.

Mrs. Thompson enjoyed sewing and dressmaking and was an exceptional cook.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Melvin, Howard and Roland Wessel.

Mrs. Thompson is survived by her husband of 64 years, Willis T. Thompson; daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn T. and Frank C. Downey, of Williamsport; son, Francis W. Thompson, of Eldersburg, and son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Patty Thompson, of Clarksville; grandchildren Kirk C. and his wife, Eileen L. Downey, Dawn D. and her husband, Duean Stiles, Ryan C. and his wife, Jennifer H. Downey, Wade Downey, Laura E. Thompson, Bradley W. Thompson, Alicia A. Thompson, Theresa A. Thompson and Patrick E. Thompson. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Erin A. Downey, and Emily D. and Brandon D. Stiles, as well as sisters-in-law, Mildred Wessel, Dorothy Wessel, Madeline Warfield and brother-in-law, Bronson Thompson.

Funeral Services were held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, in Fulton. Interment was at St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.slackfuneralhome.com.

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