Delia S. Stark

Delia Scrudder Stark, longtime Maryland resident, librarian and educator, lover of literature and the French language, faithful parishioner at St. Barnabas’ Church in Upper Marlboro and St. Luke’s Church in Eastport, and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, died peacefully on July 20, 2019.

Delia was born on December 5, 1951 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Eugene and Billie Scrudder, and grew up along with her younger brother, Roy, in Red Bank, Tennessee. She graduated from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in French and from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 1975 with a Master of Science in Library Science. There she met the love of her life, Harold “Pete” Stark. Delia and Pete married in November 1977 and made Maryland their home for the next 41 years, residing in Baltimore, Bowie, and Annapolis, and just this year, in Mitchellville at Collington Retirement Community.

Anyone who had the good fortune to be on the receiving end of Delia’s Southern hospitality would have no doubt that she fully embraced her Tennessee heritage: She proudly displayed her collection of “See Rock City” signs and often had a cast iron pan of cornbread in the oven, baked the way her mother taught her. Delia and Pete’s home was always filled with learning and music. She loved books, in particular her monthly book club discussions in Annapolis, and she played both flute and piano in her youth and continued to study piano throughout her life. 

Delia’s career in library sciences included working as a bibliographic librarian, law librarian, and environmental librarian. When she left that career to take care of her three children, she became a Pampered Chef consultant and perfected the apple cinnamon French toast recipe that made her home the place for middle school sleepovers. In 1995, she brought her enthusiasm for music and French language and culture to the students at Queen Anne School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where she taught from 1995-2011 and served as the school librarian from 2010-2011.

Delia was devoted to her faith and was an active member of St. Barnabas’ Church in Upper Marlboro and later at St. Luke’s Church in Eastport. In 2018, despite serious health problems, she completed the Education for Ministry program through the University of the South, School of Theology.

Delia brought unparalleled energy and dedication to her career, her church, and her friendships, but her deepest love was for her family, especially her two grandsons who brought so much joy to her last years. Delia is survived by her husband, Pete; three children—Elizabeth Auclair (husband Austin), Edward Stark, and David Stark (wife Rei Harada); two grandsons, Henry Auclair and Eugene Stark-Harada; and brother, Roy Scrudder.

Visitation will take place with Delia’s family on Wednesday, July 24 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 Crain Hwy, (Rt. 3 South) Bowie, MD 20715. The funeral service will take place on Thursday, July 25 at 11:00 am at St. Barnabas’ Church, 14111 Oak Grove Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 and will be followed by burial and a reception.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Delia’s name to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, 1820 W. Webster Ave., Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60614.