GEORGE MARTIN CLOUD

George Martin Cloud, 93, of Unionville, passed away on March 17 at his residence.

He was the husband of Betty Strickland Cloud, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage. Born in Unionville, he was the son of the late Pusey and Ida Hoopes Cloud. He was a farmer all of his life, and was best known for raising turkeys. He also worked at Kendal at Longwood for 14 years, where he was in charge of outside maintenance. He was a graduate of Unionville High School and Drexel University. He was an East Marlborough Township Supervisor for 39 years, and was a member of the East Lynn Grange and the Unionville Presbyterian Church. He served his country as a pilot in World War II, as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He enjoyed, hunting, fishing and bowling.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Glenn M. Cloud and his wife Heidi of Baltimore, Md., and Dennis G. Cloud of Unionville; one daughter, Cheryl L. Cloud of Jeffersonville, Pa.; two brothers, Philip H. Cloud of Kennett Square, and Bruce M. Cloud of Waynesboro, Va.; one sister, Margaret Elvin of Kennett Square; and five grandchildren.
A funeral was held March 21. Burial was in Longwood Cemetery in Kennett Square. In memory of Mr. Cloud, a contribution may be made to the American Heart Association, 1617 JFK Boulevard, Suite 700, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.

ALICE SWEENEY MONROE 

Alice Sweeney Monroe, 96, of West Grove, formerly of Wilmington, Del., passed away on March 16 at her residence.
She was the wife of the late Clifton James Monroe. Born in Dearing, W. Va., she was the daughter of the late A.H. and Neva Davies Sweeney. She was a bookkeeper and had worked for various businesses during her career.
She is survived by one son, Arthur James Monroe of Yorktown, Va.; one sister, Kathleen Hughes of West Grove; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services and burial will be private.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.

VIRGINIA D. EHLERS 

Virginia Ehlers, 86, passed away peacefully on March 20 at home in Kirkwood, Pa., with loving family at her side. 

She was born in 1927 in Annapolis, Md., to parents Albert C. and Olga Elizabeth (Maloney) Davidson. She was raised in Harbeson, Del., and attended schools in Georgetown, Del.

Following her 1947 marriage to John W. Ehlers, they resided in Elsmere Del., Fairfax, Del., and West Chester, Pa. She also lived in Lewes, Del., before moving to Kirkwood. She was employed by Chester County Head Start, Simplex Time Recorder Company in West Chester, the Sea Horse Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, and was a medical transcriptionist at a medical practice in Lewes, Del.

She is survived by three sons and a daughter: Eric and Sharen Ehlers, The Villages, Fla.; Craig and Jackie Ehlers, Pacific Palisades, Calif.; Lisa and Joseph Campbell, Kirkwood; and Kent Ehlers, Quarryville, Pa.; a sister, Joan Lewis of Middletown, Del., and niece Beth Robinson, and  nephew Adam Weber, both of Middletown, Del.. Virginia was blessed with eight grandchildren, Eric Justin Ehlers, Amanda Smolinski, Jeffrey and Parker Ehlers, Mark Campbell, Jessica Ehlers, Ryan and Mallory Ehlers; and four great-grandchildren.

She was a member of Oxford United Methodist Church. She was assisted in her last weeks by staff from Brandywine River Valley Home Health and Hospice, Oxford. The family greatly appreciates their comfort and support.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on March 26 at Oxford United Methodist Church (18 Addison St., Oxford), with graveside service to follow at 1 p.m. on March 27 at Beaverdam Cemetery in Harbeson, Del.

Donations in Virginia’s memory may be made to Brandywine River Valley Home Health and Hospice, 121 Bell Tower Lane, Oxford PA 19363. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

HUGH MCMILLEN, JR. 

Hugh "Buzz" McMillen, Jr., of Kennett Square, passed away peacefully at his home on March 22.  He was 84 years old.

Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Hugh McMillen, Sr., and the late Effie Krusey McMillen. He was the beloved husband for 55 years to Marie Raimato McMillen; father of John H. McMillen; grandfather of Brandon J. McMillen, Lauren E. McMillen and Ryan M. McMillen; brother of the late Katherine M. Bachman. 

A funeral mass will be offered at 10 a.m. on March 27 at St. Patrick Catholic Church (212 Meredith St., Kennett Square_. The viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 26, and from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on March 27 at the Longwood Funeral Home of Matthew Genereux (913 E. Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square). Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Neighborhood Hospice, 400 East Marshall Street, West Chester, PA 19380; or the Alzheimers Association, 399 Market St., No. 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

CHESSIE ANN BLANKENBECKLER

Chessie Ann “Mom-Mom” Blankenbeckler, 92, of Oxford, passed away on March 23 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford.

She was the wife of the late William Vance Blankenbeckler. Born in Husk, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Rev. Lee J. Howell and Amanda Ines Carter Howell. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to everyone she met. She touched many lives being a caregiver to children and the elderly. She had a love for life’s little things and devoted her life to caring for others. She especially loved children and over the years, in addition to her own, cared for more than 40 children in her home. She was known to all as “mom-mom.” She loved gardening, baking, canning, quilting, and crocheting. She was a member of the Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church, and a member of the Oxford Senior Center.

She is survived by one son, Ronald Blankenbeckler (Ruth) of Oxford; one daughter, Naomi Myers (Glenn) of Newark, Del.; three foster children, Blane Freeman (Debbie), Michael Freeman, and Ken Harris; five grandchildren, Teresa Rosa of Oxford, Ronald Blankenbeckler, Jr. of Newark, Del., Jill Myers of Newark, Del., Gregory Myers of Chester, Ill., Karen Myers of Richmond, Va., and Beth Freeman of Frackville, Pa.; 11 great-grandchildren; one brother, Frank Howell of Oxford; and one sister, Retha Coleman (Doug) of Manassas, Va. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Oma Jean Roop; three brothers, Bryan Howell, Roy Howell, and Earl Howell; and three sisters, Essie Jones, Wanda Roop and Pauline Roland.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on March 28 at Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church (303 W. Christine Rd., Nottingham), where friends may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Friends may also visit from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 27 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine St., Oxford). Interment will be in Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church, 303 W. Christine Rd., Nottingham, PA 19362; or Ware Presbyterian Village, 7 E. Locust St, Oxford, PA 19363. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

RUTH HELEN O'KEEFE BRADY 

Ruth Helen O'Keefe Brady, of Wilmington, Del., passed away on March 20 at Seasons Hospice. She was 87 years old.

Born in Chester, Delaware County, she was the daughter of the late Joseph John O'Keefe and the late Helen Sadie Bender O'Keefe Hibbard. She was the beloved mother of Kevin Francis Brady, Joseph Henry Brady Jr., Sharon Brady Kelley and her husband James A. Kelley, Stephen John Brady and his wife Karen Huber Brady, and Mark Christopher Brady and his wife Anita Kelley Brady; grandmother of Kelyanne Elizabeth Hayes and her husband Clifton "Kip" Wesley Hayes III, Jennifer Kristen Brady, Alyssa Michelle Brady, Jessica Lynn Brady, Brendan Edward Kelley, Kelley Marie Brady, Katelynn Ann Brady and Melissa Marvel Cintron and her husband Dominic Blaise Cintron; great-grandmother of Collins Wesley Hayes, Emma Nicole Platt, and Dominic Anthony Cintron; sister of Eleanor Schreiner and Richard O'Keefe. She was pre-deceased by her former husband, Dr. Joseph H. Brady; and siblings, Wallace O'Keefe, Alfred O'Keefe, Raymond O'Keefe and Lorraine H. O'Keefe.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on March 28 at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Catholic Church (10 Old Church Rd., Greenville, Del.).  Visitation will be held in the church from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, 1901 Rockland Rd., Wilmington, DE 19803 (www.rmhde.org).

RONALD P. NIEWEG

Ronald P. Nieweg, 69, of West Grove, passed away on Jan. 9 at Passavant Retirement Community, Zelienople, Pa.

Born in Manchester, N.H., he was the son of the late Fred and Theresa Gelinas Nieweg. He is survived by his four sisters, Marcella Kennicott of Westland, Mich., Freda Shorter of The Villages, Fla., Donna Schuring of Baden, Pa., and Andrea Ward of Mt. City, Tenn.; four nephews; and two nieces. Friends and family may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 4 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine St., Oxford). Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.