Surrounded by her family Della May Ostien (nee Omlor) went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Della was born in Hahnaman Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 25, 1944, to Charles E. Omlor, Sr., and A. Grace Omlor (nee Hutton).
She attended Middle Township Roosevelt and Lima elementary schools in Aston Township, and graduated from Penncrest High School in Aston Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 1962, as a member of the first class to attend 7th through 12th grades in the newly built school. Upon graduating from Penncrest High School, Della was awarded a scholarship to attend Pierce Business College from 1962 through 1963 while working at Scott Paper Company at its Philadelphia Airport headquarters and Dura-Weve Division in Chester, Pennsylvania.
In October 1964 Della met her husband, Paul H. Ostien, Jr. (aka Cork), on a blind date arranged by their mutual best friends, Allan and Harriet Jones. Paul and Della were married on September 17, 1966, in a candlelight service at Lima Methodist Church, Lima, Pennsylvania. After their five-day honeymoon in Williamsburg, Virginia, Cork reported to the USN Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Graduating in the upper 1% of his class in February 1967, Cork was ordered to report to the 15th Naval District in the Panama Canal Zone. She and Paul lived for three years in the Canal Zone and then moved into the City of Panama for another year while Paul worked with fellow attorney and friend, former Minister of Education of Panama, Reuben Arosemena.
During their four-year stay in Panama, Della worked for the Electrical Engineer’s Office of the Panama Canal Company; the U.S. Navy 15th Naval District; Booz-Allen Applied Research’s contract with the U. S. Army Tropical Test Center, Fort Clayton; and the U. S. Air Force at Albrook Air Force Base.
When they returned to the United States in February 1971 Della and Cork began their family and resided in Ridley Park and West Grove, Pennsylvania. In 1979 they moved to Ocean City. Their three children, Paul H. Ostien, III (aka Tres), Ashley A. (Ostien) Pinkerton, Matthew B. Ostien all graduated from Ocean City High School.
While living in Ocean City Della was active as the principal in several real estate projects and investments, including the acquisition negotiation and purchase of the seven-story commercial office building at the corner of 8th Street and Asbury Avenue in Ocean City and its parking lot from First Fidelity Bank. Della also served as the managing member a private real estate investment entity.
Della is predeceased by her father Charles E. Omlor, Sr.; her mother, A. Grace Omlor; and her brother, Charles E. Omlor, Jr. She is survived by Paul (aka Cork), her husband of 59 years, who lives in Ocean City, NJ; her son, Tres Ostien of Wilmington, Delaware; her daughter, Ashley (George) Pinkerton of Jupiter, Florida; and her son, Matthew (Kristin) Ostien of Bethesda, Maryland; sisters: Alma G. Wray of Winter Haven, Florida; Loralee V. (Richard) Henry of Great Falls, Virginia; and Deborah A. (Gerald) Johnston of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Mariah May (Andrew) Chitty, Chandler Andrew Pinkerton, Hope Hutton Pinkerton, Kaitlyn Stillwell Ostien, Skylar Stillwell Ostien, and twins Molly MacGregor Ostien and Laird Henry Ostien; great grandson, Carson Henry Chitty.
Her Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday afternoon, May 17th at three o’clock from St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, Eighth Street at Central Avenue, Ocean City, NJ with a visitation from two o’clock until the time of service.
A reception will follow the service in the Stainton Room of St. Peter’s Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, Building Fund Ocean City, NJ, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or the Humane Society of Ocean City, NJ.
Arrangements are by The Godfrey Funeral Home of Ocean City. For condolences to the family, visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com
