Obituary for Anne C Oyler (Clements)
Anne “Nan Clements” Oyler
Delaware Journalist for over 40 years
Anne “Nan Clements” Oyler, a journalist whose career spanned four decades at the News Journal, passed away January 9, 2023 in Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 81. She was born in the Catskill Region of New York on November 11, 1941 to Howard and Ann Clements (Orantis). She attended Syracuse University where she was a member of Tri Delta Sorority and graduated in 1963 with a degree in Journalism.
Nan began her newspaper career in high school working for the local paper. During college she was a reporter for the Post Standard in Syracuse. After graduation she moved to Delaware to further her career at the Morning News / Evening Journal, working in the Dover Bureau. Nan was married on January 1, 1966 to Lester E. Hendrix Jr., also a reporter. In 1967 they relocated to the Hudson Valley in New York State, where she later published her own newspaper, The Coxsackie Townsman. After her divorce, Nan returned to Delaware in 1974 to resume her career at The New Journal. There she met and married fellow newspaperman David “Moose” Oyler. She worked in many roles at the News Journal Papers, including reporter, assistant features editor, metro editor, business editor and staff writer. Nan enjoyed writing columns where she made humorous and insightful observations about culture. She retired from The News Journal (Gannett) in 1998.
Nan enjoyed reading mysteries, biographies and history. She rarely watched television and was an avid gardener. Nan enjoyed travelling with her husband David, her daughter Kathy, her Sister-in-Law Ginny and friends. She was able to visit France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Russia, and many places in North America.
Nan was an engaging storyteller, often drawing on her experiences as a reporter. She described the thrill of flying with the USAF Thunderbirds, but also the harrowing detail of reporting on crime scenes, serial killers, fires and as an official witness to an execution. Nan possessed a sharp wit and dry sense of humor. She was a dog lover, and had many canine companions through her adult life.
Nan was predeceased by her parents, her brother Howard G. Clements, and both husbands. She is survived by her children Lester Hendrix (Kate) of Wilmington, Kathryn Hendrix (Brian Piascik) of Wilmington, step-children Nancy Stanford of Texas, Robert Oyler of West Virginia, Joan Crowder of Colorado, Maida Oyler of Texas, David Oyler (Kristin) of Wilmington, and her sister-in-law and sorority sister Virginia Clements (Kuhn) of Maryland, numerous grandchildren including Amanda (James) Miller, Desiree, Brian, Nicolas, (Kathryn); Declan, Liam (Lester); Phineas, Heidi (David) and many great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Thursday, January 26 at 12:30 pm at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home, 1400 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington (Elsmere), DE 19805. Guests may call one hour earlier.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brandywine Valley SPCA (bvspca.org).
Delaware Journalist for over 40 years
Anne “Nan Clements” Oyler, a journalist whose career spanned four decades at the News Journal, passed away January 9, 2023 in Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 81. She was born in the Catskill Region of New York on November 11, 1941 to Howard and Ann Clements (Orantis). She attended Syracuse University where she was a member of Tri Delta Sorority and graduated in 1963 with a degree in Journalism.
Nan began her newspaper career in high school working for the local paper. During college she was a reporter for the Post Standard in Syracuse. After graduation she moved to Delaware to further her career at the Morning News / Evening Journal, working in the Dover Bureau. Nan was married on January 1, 1966 to Lester E. Hendrix Jr., also a reporter. In 1967 they relocated to the Hudson Valley in New York State, where she later published her own newspaper, The Coxsackie Townsman. After her divorce, Nan returned to Delaware in 1974 to resume her career at The New Journal. There she met and married fellow newspaperman David “Moose” Oyler. She worked in many roles at the News Journal Papers, including reporter, assistant features editor, metro editor, business editor and staff writer. Nan enjoyed writing columns where she made humorous and insightful observations about culture. She retired from The News Journal (Gannett) in 1998.
Nan enjoyed reading mysteries, biographies and history. She rarely watched television and was an avid gardener. Nan enjoyed travelling with her husband David, her daughter Kathy, her Sister-in-Law Ginny and friends. She was able to visit France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Russia, and many places in North America.
Nan was an engaging storyteller, often drawing on her experiences as a reporter. She described the thrill of flying with the USAF Thunderbirds, but also the harrowing detail of reporting on crime scenes, serial killers, fires and as an official witness to an execution. Nan possessed a sharp wit and dry sense of humor. She was a dog lover, and had many canine companions through her adult life.
Nan was predeceased by her parents, her brother Howard G. Clements, and both husbands. She is survived by her children Lester Hendrix (Kate) of Wilmington, Kathryn Hendrix (Brian Piascik) of Wilmington, step-children Nancy Stanford of Texas, Robert Oyler of West Virginia, Joan Crowder of Colorado, Maida Oyler of Texas, David Oyler (Kristin) of Wilmington, and her sister-in-law and sorority sister Virginia Clements (Kuhn) of Maryland, numerous grandchildren including Amanda (James) Miller, Desiree, Brian, Nicolas, (Kathryn); Declan, Liam (Lester); Phineas, Heidi (David) and many great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Thursday, January 26 at 12:30 pm at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home, 1400 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington (Elsmere), DE 19805. Guests may call one hour earlier.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brandywine Valley SPCA (bvspca.org).