Jonathan William Fleetwood gained his angel wings on Sept. 10, 2024 peacefully after battling a brief illness, with his loving family by his side. Jonathan was born on July 26, 1982 at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital to Trudy Parker and William Michael Fleetwood.
Jonathan was predeceased by his grandparents William and Grace Phillips, Norman Watley, Charles and Edna Fleetwood, his uncles Charles “Tom” Fleetwood Jr, Jay Watley and his loving step-father, John Parker. He is survived by his mother, Trudy Parker; father, William Michael Fleetwood and stepmother Linda Fleetwood; grandmother, Barb Watley; brother, Matthew Parker and wife Ashley; sister, Brooke Fleetwood and fiancé Matthew Kroeger; stepsisters, Jennifer Zuck and her husband Mark Miller, Jennifer Dorman and her husband James, Carrie Stoeckel, Amy Herr and her husband Chad, and step-brother Josh Parker and his wife Dawn. Jonathan is also survived by uncles Kevin Phillips, Scott Phillips, Kenneth Tonge and his aunt Melisse Tonge, aunt Jeane Watley and her husband Jay Spadaro, and aunt Ronda Thilo and husband Dennis, aunt Debbie Fleetwood, aunt Cara Baker, and aunt Kathy Layfield. Lastly, he is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins that loved him and will miss him dearly.
Jonathan was born in Seaford but attended school in Lewes at the Sussex Elementary Consortium from ages 4-18. He then transferred to the Woods Services in Langhorne, Pa. at 18 until he was 20 years of age. At age 21 after six months stay at the hospital CHOPS in Philadelphia, PA, he became a resident at the Stockley Center in Georgetown until his death.
Jonathan’s delightful personality made him a joy to be around. His quirky language and nonlinear thinking surprised his family and his teachers with creativity and humor. With all of Jonathan’s challenges, whether medical or physiological challenges in life he never complained or shed a tear. He was a very strong, loving, young man. He was our hero. Everyone who worked with Jonathan had at least one Jonathan story to swap with friends and family and our family has hundreds of memories that we cherish and will continue to keep us going.
We want to thank the staff of the Stockley Center for taking special care of Jonathan for the past 21 years, he was loved by many there. We would also like to show great appreciation for many staff at Beebe Hospital in Lewes for many previous hospitalizations over the years, along with Bayhealth in Milford for the dedicated care of Jonathan, especially for his most recent visit in the ICU and their amazing support for Jonathan’s transition into God’s arms.
Growing up Jonathan loved to swim, especially in his mom-mom and pop-pop Phillips’ pool. He had love for all animals and did not discriminate, from frogs to his sister’s horses. He had a huge love of signs, and a fascination of traffic lights and railroad tracks. But the moon was his true love, the boy should have been an astronaut; he loved the planetary systems. We could go on for days, but family was very big for Jonathan, he loved to see and associate with them all.
Jonathan attended Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Laurel, where he was baptized and attended Sunday school through his youth. Jonathan is now at peace and flying high with his angel wings, Superman cape and entertaining heaven for sure. He will be greatly missed by all of his caretakers, family and friends.
A viewing was held on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the Hannigan, Short, Disharoon Funeral Home in Laurel. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. with a viewing from noon-1 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Shane Phillips will officiate. Interment will be private. A reception will immediately follow the service at the American Legion Post #19, 12168 Laurel Road, Laurel, Delaware 19956 from 2-4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest contributions be made in honor of Jonathan Fleetwood to: Autism Delaware, Epilepsy Foundation of Delaware, Brandywine Valley SPCA, and donations to the Agent Orange Research Foundation for Vietnam Veterans that were exposed with the risk to themselves and their offspring. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hsdfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Hannigan, Short, Disharoon Funeral Home in Laurel.