Loretta L. Wootten

Loretta (Lindale) Wootten, 83

FELTON – Our beloved mother, The Honorable Loretta L. Wootten passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving daughters, Donna and Brenda on April 10, 2026. Loretta was born in Milford on Oct 21,1942, the daughter of the late Harry and Clara Moore Lindale. She was the fourth child of 7 siblings. After graduating in 1960 from Milford High School, Loretta married her late husband, Vaughn Wayne Wootten of 57 years.

Loretta was fascinated with politics, loved helping the community, traveling, going on cruises, entertaining, and enjoyed cooking and baking pies. She thoroughly enjoyed going to the Delaware State Fair to see shows and has won numerous awards for cooking and pie contests…Her most famous known pie was coconut custard. Also, Loretta loved to help people in need as she was so loving and compassionate to her family, friends and even strangers of all walks of life.  She felt that was her purpose in life and it gave her great pleasure. Most of all, she loved and adored her grandchildren, Summer and Hunter Stanley.

Loretta has worked as a public servant in the State and County Government throughout her adult life. In 1969, Loretta got her feet wet in politics doing literature drops for different campaigns and shortly after, worked as an attaché at Legislative Hall during Charles L. Terry’s years as Governor. She then moved on to assist former Governor, Sherman Tribbett with his political campaign in 1972. Loretta has been a dedicated worker and supporter for President Joe Biden since his first term as Senator and has continued to support him as a member of his campaign executive committee. She has also been an avid supporter for many other candidates including Governor Ruth Ann Minner as Representative, Senator, Lt. Governor and Governor, Senator Tom Carper’s campaigns from Treasurer to U.S. Senator, and many other Senators, Representatives, Kent County Row Officers and Levy Court Commissioners. In addition, she was a strong supporter of the late Beau Biden, former Attorney General for the State of Delaware. Loretta has served as a delegate or alternate to several State conventions as well as the Credentials Committee and has been a committee woman for over 40 years.

Loretta worked with County government from 1973 until 2012 starting out as a Clerk in the Recorder of Deeds office. In 1980, she transferred to the Register in Chancery office and held the positions of Deputy and Chief Deputy Register. Served four consecutive terms as the Register in Chancery for that office, becoming the first woman in Delaware to hold that title. She retired from her position in 2000; However, was shortly appointed by the Governor as the Clerk of the Peace for Kent County due to the former Clerk of the Peace, Edie Hemphill’s untimely death. She was elected for three consecutive terms (12 yrs) until 2012 as Kent County Clerk of the Peace.

Loretta has volunteered and served her community extremely well as a caring community leader in many clubs and organizations.  While giving so much of herself, she continued to balance her roles as wife, mother and grandmother lovingly.  Her community involvement includes the following: member of Frederica Trinity United Methodist Church for over 57 years, member of the Frederica Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary over 50 years holding positions as Secretary, Vice-President and President, member of the Capital City Business and Professional Woman’s (BPW) Club holding the positions of past President and Secretary 1989-1990; Capital City BPW Woman of the Year 1993-1994; State Membership Chair Nominated by Capital City and Harrington BPW Club as 1996 State Business and Professional Woman of the Year; 1997-Inducted into the BPW Hall of Fame, a member and Past Vice-President, President and past State Environmental Chair of Families and Community Education (FCE) both state and county wide and was nominated to be appointed Vice-President for a second time, a member of Avon Club of Felton, (an affiliate of the Federation of Women’s Club, a member and past President of Felton Friends Homemakers Club, Past President, Vice-President and Secretary of Central Delaware Democrat Club, Past President and Secretary of State Federation of Democrat Club.

Loretta has volunteered her time to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, United Way, St. Jude’s Bike-a-thon for Children’s Hospital, Girls and Boys Club of Delaware, Toys for Tots, Hostess for Old Dover Days.

Loretta received the following awards. In 1990, Loretta was nominated to Who’s Who in Government Services whose directories have become a standard of excellence for leaders in the government services field on the federal, state, and local level and symbolizes one’s status and achievements. May 22, 2000, she was the recipient of the 19th Annual Alexis I. DuPont Bayard Service Award at the Jefferson-Jackson gala in recognition of her years of outstanding service and dedication to the Delaware Democratic Party. In 1997 she was inducted into the Business and Professional Woman’s Hall of Fame, in 2014 she was the recipient of the 30th District Honor Night Award, and in 2016 she was Delaware’s Mother of the Year.

A true Role Model, the Honorable Loretta Wootten was a trailblazer for women who was always willing to help people at all costs. She has made such an impact on so many people’s lives and is admired by many. She valued her strong family bonds and loved to share stories of her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Harry and Clara Lindale, Loretta Wootten was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Wootten, her brothers, Harry, Clifford, Jimmy, Donald, Gene and Billy Lindale.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Donna Stanley and Brenda Wootten, her son- in-law, James Stanley, granddaughter, Summer Stanley, grandson, Hunter Stanley, sister, Jeanette Smoots and sisters-in-law, Lorraine Lindale, Teresa Lindale and Sharon Lindale.

A viewing will be held 10:00 am – 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Lighthouse Christian Center, 347 Calvary Rd., Milford where funeral services will be held promptly at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be at Barratt’s Chapel Cemetery, Bay Road, Frederica.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Frederica Ladies Auxiliary, P.O Box 188, Frederica, DE 19946. Arrangements by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford. Letters of condolence may be shared with the family at www.loflandandmcknatt.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Loretta L. Wootten, please visit our floral store.