Obituaries for the Week of Sept. 11

Lloyd Wenger Sr., 88

Lloyd M. Wenger Sr., 88, of Phoenixville, PA, passed away early Sept. 13, 2011 after a period of declining health.  

Mr. Wenger was born April 9, 1923 to W. Neff and Ada (Miller) Wenger.

After graduating from Phoenixville High School, he began a career as a machinist with various local companies including B.F. Goodrich in Oaks, Jacob Pattern Works in Stowe and Fetterof Corporation in Skippack, as well as operating his own machine shop.  

Never idle, he was an active participant with his wife in their retail shop in St. Peter's Village for many years and spent summers after his retirement running their antique business.

Mr. Wenger was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Charlotte (Stott) Wenger last November.

He is survived by his daughters, Marie Barnette and her husband Jim of Perkiomenville, PA; Greta Smithson and her husband John of Randolph, NH, and his son, Lloyd M. Wenger Jr. of Houston, TX. He will be sadly missed by grandchildren Craig and Doug Barnette, Geoff Smithson and Jill Smithson Poulin, as well as great great-grandsons Brady, Boyd and Benjamin Poulin and Chael Smithson.  

In addition to his wife, Mr. Wenger was preceded in death by one brother, Byron M. Wenger.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a service celebrating his life on Monday, Sept. 19, 2011 at the Green Tree Church of the Brethren, 1078 Egypt Road, Oaks, PA at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. David A. Leiter will officiate.  

Interment will follow in the church cemetery. 

Friends will be received from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Monday morning at the Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Green Tree Church of the Brethren, P.O. Box 874, Oaks, PA 19456.  

The Campbell–Ennis–Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., Main Street at Fifth Avenue, Phoenixville, PA is in charge of the arrangements.  Condolences may be made by visiting www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com. 

Dan Cornwell, 76

Dan Cornwell passed away on Sept. 10, 2011, nine days short
of his 77th birthday. He died peacefully in his sleep that morning.

Dan was well known in the West Chester, PA, community where 
his family had lived for generations. He had a long career with
Merrill Lynch, and served on the board of The Chester County
Hospital for many years.

Dan's educational background included The Haverford School,
Andover and Yale University following many Cornwells before him.

He excelled in swimming, and was chosen to be on the All-American
swim team. Playing competitive squash was also something he enjoyed.

Dan is survived by his wife Hendrika, daughter Heather Gray, son Dan and
five grandchildren.

Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to
The Chester County Hospital, West Chester, PA 19380.

Condolences may be given to the family at www.DevlinRosmosKepp.com.

Arrangements are by the Devlin-Rosmos-Kepp Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 517 S. Main St., Phoenixville, PA.

Allen Mercer Jr., 77

Allen H. Mercer Jr., 77, husband of the late Annette J. (Scaringi) Mercer, of Spring City, PA, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 in Phoenixville Hospital.

Born in Coatesville, PA, he was the son of the late Allen H. Sr. and Anna (Newman) Mercer.

Allen worked at L. G. Industries in Wagontown, PA.

Surviving are a son, Richard, husband of Susan Mercer of Phoenixville and a daughter, Renee Miller of Birdsboro; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and a sister, Mildred Hemlock of Coatesville, PA.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Russell Mercer.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service in the Devlin-Rosmos-Kepp Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 517 S. Main St. at Fourth Avenue, Phoenixville, PA on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011 at 10 a.m. with Pastor Jack A. Mason officiating.

Burial will follow in St. Mary's Black Rock Cemetery, Phoenixville, PA.

A viewing will be held in the funeral home on Monday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Condolences may be given to the family at www.DevlinRosmosKepp.com.

Thomas "Chip" Pufko, 53

Thomas N. "Chip" Pufko, 53, husband of Mary Ann (Gallina) Pufko, of Spring City, PA, died on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011.

Born in Phoenixville, PA, he was the son of the late Thomas N. Sr. and Jeanne L. (McGowan) Pufko.

Thomas was a graduate of Phoenixville High School, Class of 1975, and a graduate of Wilkes University.

He served in the United States Marine Corps, where he was honorably discharged as an officer.

Surviving in addition to his wife are: step-son, Frank and wife Dorothy Clamer, and their two children of Coatesville, PA; two sisters, Stephanie wife of William Umbach of Phoenixville and M. Melissa Glading of Valley Forge, PA; a brother, Neil and wife Candice Pufko of Spring City, PA, six nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Dara Pufko.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Service in the Devlin-Rosmos-Kepp Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 517 S. Main St. at Fourth Avenue, Phoenixville, on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011 at 7 p.m.

Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.

A viewing will be held in the funeral home on Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to the Thomas N. Pufko Memorial Fund, c/o Phoenixville Federal Bank, 120 Main St., Phoenixville, PA 19460.

Condolences may be given to the family at www.DevlinRosmosKepp.com.

Beatrice Loose, 94

Beatrice Brune Loose, 94, of Denver, PA passed away at her daughter’s home in Limerick on Sept. 9,  2011.  She was preceded in death by two husbands; Lennart Hilding Brune Sr. and Charles Lee Loose.  

Beatrice was one of 10 children from the family of Nettie White Chittenden and Fred Ernest Chittenden of Pittsfield, MA.  

Central to Beatrice’s life was a devotion to her children and husbands. For 53 years she worked as the bookkeeper and receptionist for Brune Abrasive, a family business. This was a job she loved because she was helping her family.

She is survived by two children, Beverly Brune Oehlert, wife of R. James Oehlert, Limerick; and Lennart Hilding Brune Jr., husband of Eleanor Smith Brune, Denver, PA, and four grandchildren: Sandra Oehlert Yanisko, Steven Oehlert, Andrew Brune and Megan Brune Keenan; and eight great-grandchildren. She is survived by one sister, Hazel Gilbert and one brother, Franklin R. Chittenden.

The funeral and burial are being handled privately by the Cattermole-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Royersford, PA.  

View obituary and send condolences at www.RoyersfordFuneralHome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice VNA Pottstown and Vicinity, 1963 E. High St., Pottstown, PA.

Peggy Finnefock, 72

Peggy L. (Mossie) Finnefrock, 72, wife of the late Howard J. Finnefrock, of Spring City, PA, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 in the Phoenixville Hospital.

Born in Phoenixville, she was a daughter of the late Raymond and Erma (Tompkins) Mossie.

Mrs. Finnefrock was an active member of the Baptist Church of Phoenixville, where she enjoyed serving. She enjoyed and had a passion for babysitting, and loved to spend time with her family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Mrs. Finnefrock is survived by three sons: Michael Cooney; John, husband of Sharon Cooney; and Scott, husband of Geraldine Cooney; one daughter, Karina, wife of Gene Behler;  two sisters, Helenrae, wife of Bill Grover; and Anne, wife of Thomas Soliday; seven grandchildren; four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Bob, Jim, and Ray Mossie.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her memorial service at the Baptist Church of Phoenixville, Gay and Church Sts., Phoenixville, PA, on Wednesday Sept. 14, 2011 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Brent D. Miller will officiate. Friends will be received at the church on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Contributions may be made in her name to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 163549, Columbus, OH 43216.

Arrangements are being handled by the Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., Main Street at Fifth Avenue, Phoenixville. Condolences may be offered online by visiting www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com.

Eleanor May Morris, 92

Eleanor May Morris, a pioneer in using conservation easements to save open space, died peacefully at her home in Pughtown on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.

She was 92 and was the widow of former state Representative Samuel W. Morris.

A resident of South Coventry Township for 65 years, Mrs. Morris was very active in politics, land conservation, historic preservation, and many facets of community life. Her deepest commitment was to conserving open space.  

In 1967, she and her husband founded the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. The mission of the Trust was to preserve open space in the watersheds of the two creeks, as well as historic buildings and communities. It was among the first organizations in the nation to promote the preservation of open space through the use of conservation easements, a novel approach at that time. Under her leadership, the Trust convened national conferences on open space preservation to share innovative techniques with others. 

Mrs. Morris was the driving force behind the Trust from its founding until 2002 and she served as president for 30 years. During her tenure, the Trust permanently preserved over 7,000 acres through donated and purchased conservation easements as well as public/private partnerships. In addition, it placed over 60 sites and districts on the National Register of Historic Places.             

Mrs. Morris graduated from The Shipley School, attended Radcliffe College, and earned two degrees in American history from Bryn Mawr College, a Bachelor's of Arts in 1941 and a Master's of Arts in 1970. 

Eleanor and Sam Morris moved to Lundale Farm in northern Chester County in 1946. They established a dairy herd and raised sheep, pigs, beef, chickens and vegetables.    

Mrs. Morris became involved in the Chester County Democratic Party shortly after moving to the South Coventry and served as a Committeeperson for 60 years. When Mr. Morris ran on the Democratic ticket for the Pennsylvania Legislature, she threw herself into managing his campaigns. He was elected in 1970 and served as the state representative for the 155th District for 18 years.  

Throughout that time, Mrs. Morris was his chief strategist and tireless supporter. Mrs. Morris’ interest in preserving land, streams, and history coalesced when the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust acquired an 18th-century flour mill and the land surrounding it in Chester Springs to save the property from development. She was a founding member of The Mill at Anselma Preservation and Education Trust when the mill, now a National Historic Landmark, was spun off as a separate not-for-profit organization.            

Mrs. Morris is survived by children Samuel W. Morris Jr., husband of Carolyn; Barbara Morris Caspersen; Eleanor Morris Illoway, wife of Stock; George M. J. Morris, husband of Vicky; Cooper H. Morris, husband of Wendy; Laura Morris Siena, wife of Ron; Christopher L. Morris, husband of Daryl; and Ozzie Abaye, who joined the family in 1979; 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and sisters Anita Kuhn and Elise Felton.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 at the Lionville Fire Company, 15 S. Village Avenue, Exton, PA.  

Remembrances of Eleanor’s life will be offered at 7 p.m.  A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2011 at St. Peter’s Church in the Great Valley, 2475 St. Peter’s Road, Malvern, PA.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Lundale Farm, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded to promote the Morris’ legacy in land preservation and farming, c/o The Barn Office, 1153 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA 19465, or the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, 511 Kimberton Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460.      

Arrangements are being handled by the Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc.  Condolences may be offered online at www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com.