LUCY BELLE CHAMBERS

Lucy Belle (Mullin) Chambers, 89, of Carmichael, Calif., formerly of Chatham, Pa., died on May 13 at her residence in Carmichael, Calif.

She was wife of late Robert L. Chambers, with whom she shared 40 years of marriage until his passing in 1989. Born in 1926 in Jennersville, she was a daughter of the late Clarence A. and the late Lilian A. (Wood) Mullin. She was the youngest, having three older brothers, all of whom preceded her in death. Lucy grew up in Chatham. As a young girl, she attended Chatham Methodist, where her mother played the organ. She attended Avondale School, and then later Avon Grove High School. She worked at Lukens Steel Mill in Coatesville while her first husband, Joseph Taylor, went to war. Later she moved to California, and remarried to Robert Chambers. She managed the books for their own business, as she had at Pierce Brothers Market in Kennett Square. She spent her days as a homemaker for the family. She enjoyed reading, and visiting with friends and relatives.

Survivors include one daughter, Maureen A. Koepke of Sparks, Nev.; and one son, Timothy Chambers of Port Orchard, Wash.

A graveside service was held June 7 at Oxford Cemetery. To view her online tribute or to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

JUDITH BRAINERD JOHNSTON

Judith Brainerd Johnston, 83, of Oxford, died on May 28 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford.

She was the wife of Murray V. Johnston, Jr., with whom she shared 62 years of marriage. Born in Pittsburgh, she was a daughter of the late Harry H. and the late Marjorie L. (Johnston) Brainerd. In her early years, she worked for Lord and Taylor in Stamford, Conn., and was a longtime resident of Old Greenwich, Conn. She and her family later moved to Middletown, Del., in 2002, and then to Oxford in 2014. She enjoyed walking, vacationing at the beach, being with her grandchildren, and in her early years, playing tennis and figure skating.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Murray V. Johnston III and his wife Heather of Newark, Del., and David H. Johnston of Florida; one daughter, Beth J. Goodwin and her husband Gregory of Phoenix, Ariz.; one sister, Susan B. Hatcher of Middletown, Del.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren on their way.

A private graveside service was held in Lower Brandywine Cemetery in Centerville, Del. Contributions in her memory may be made to Benevolent Care at Ware Presbyterian Village or Willow Tree Hospice, 616 East Cypress Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

LEROY SCHUETTE

LeRoy "Lee" Schuette of Kennett Square died peacefully after a long illness on May 25.

A longtime resident of West Chester, he was a professor of biology at West Chester University. He was an avid golfer and consummate sports fan, having coached little league baseball and basketball for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Jan; four children, Kim (David), Kate (John), Michael, Kelli (Todd); and his sister, Shirley (Gary). His legacy will continue to live through his family, five grandchildren and great-granddaughter, who were a source of joy, pride,and love.

A memorial will be held for immediate family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018.

BETTY PULLEKINES

Betty (Gaston) Pullekines, 83, of Kennett Square, passed away on June 2.

She was born in1932 in Pine Bluff, Ark., and lived in Kentucky and South Carolina before moving to southern Chester County in 1973. An avid gardener, and championship golfer at Kennett Square Golf and Country Club, Betty was an intelligent, attractive, stubborn, intense and fiercely independent person. She lived and passed on her on terms. She was loved and will be missed.

She was predeceased by her husband, John. She is survived by her daughter, Carol; son-in-law, Alan Ward; son, John; and daughter-in-law, Leigh Pullekines.

Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to The Chester County Hospital Foundation, 701 E. Marshall Street, West Chester, PA 19380. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.

BERTA UNDERWOOD

Berta Underwood, 89, of Oxford, formerly of Kennett Square, passed away on June 2 at the Ware Presbyterian Village.

She was the wife of William H. Underwood, Sr., who passed away in 2012, and with whom she shared 65 years of marriage. Born in Vilshofen, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Hedwig Soldner Schwoegler. She was the head cook at the New Garden Elementary School, retiring in 1990 after 28 years of service. Berta enjoyed traveling, gardening (especially the beauty of flowers), and spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by three sons, William H. Underwood, Jr., and his wife Charlene of West Chester, Donald H. Underwood and his wife Nancy of Waco, Texas, and Mark A. Underwood and his wife Barbara of West Grove; two daughters, Judith Lichtenwalner and her husband George of Richland, Pa., and Joyce Jackson of Nottingham; one brother, Otto Schwoegler of Wilmington, Del.; one sister, Annamarie Widemann of Wilmington, Del.; 11 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held privately at a later date. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.

ISAAC J. WALTON, JR.

Isaac James Walton, Jr., 53, of Oxford, passed away on June 4 at Jennersville Regional Hospital in West Grove.

He was the husband of Beverly A. Kirkner Walton, with whom he shared 12 years of marriage. Born in West Chester, he was the son of Carol Astheimer Patterson of Oxford and the late Isaac James Walton, Sr. He was employed with Tipton Trucking Company in Oxford as a mechanic. Isaac enjoyed fishing.

He is survived by his wife; mother; two daughters, Jamie Lynn Coy of Honey Brook and Sarabeth Martin of Ephrata; three stepdaughters, Renee Kirkner and Jessica Kirkner, both of Nottingham, and Melissa Kirkner of Delaware; one stepson, Robert Kirkner of Honey Brook; four granddaughters; three grandsons; four sisters, Bobby Jo Walton of Quarryville, Lori Walton of Oxford, Paula Willoughby of Allentown and Wanda Patterson of Oxford; and two brothers, Carl Walton of Lincoln University and Jesse Walton of Nottingham.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on June 8 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine St., Oxford). Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

DONATA A. DELL'OLIO

Donata A. Dell’Olio, 64, passed away quietly at her home on June 5, after a lengthy illness.

She left this life in comfort, at peace, and surrounded by her family and friends. It should come as a surprise to nobody who knew her that she maintained her wit, toughness, and dignity until the very end.

Born in North Plainfield, N.J., Donata was a graduate of the then-named Rider College, now known as Rider University, in Lawrenceville, N.J., having earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. In the 1980s, she was vice-president of the personnel department at First Fidelity Bank in Newark, N.J., a position she held until the birth of her second child. During this time, she also taught SAT prep classes at Bruriah High School for Girls in Elizabeth, N.J., before moving with her family to Pennsylvania in 1993. Donata’s later professional life was dedicated almost exclusively to the service of others. She spent several years as a classroom aid at Penncrest High School, where she worked to support students with physical disabilities. Most recently she was employed by the ARC of Chester County for nearly 15 years. During her time with the ARC, Donata specialized in finding and maintaining employment for adults with developmental disabilities, and worked with tireless enthusiasm and endless patience to ensure that members of our society who are often marginalized were given both the opportunity and the tools to live dignified, productive, meaningful lives. Her work touched countless families in Chester County and when, in 2003, she was given her organization’s award for Caregiver of the Year, it was said by the mother of one of her clients that “Donata must be an angel in disguise.”

In her free time, Donata enjoyed with characteristic gusto some of life’s simplest pleasures. She loved gardening and beautifying her home, good food and drink, catching up on her shows and, perhaps above all else, to bury her nose in a good book. She relished the company of her family and friends, all of whom will agree that she knew how to throw a hell of a party.

Donata is survived by her son, Robert P. Sand III and his wife Katherine of Secane, Pa.; her son, Daniel A. Sand of Philadelphia; her sister, Stephanie Luchino and her husband Bob of Mountainside, N.J.; her brother, Michael Dell’Olio, his wife Linda, and their three daughters, Christine, Katelyn, and Emily of North Plainfield, N.J.; numerous cousins and in-laws; and her grandson, Jacob R. Sand -- all of whom she loved very deeply. She was preceded in death by her parents, Donato and Beatrice Dell’Olio; and her husband, Robert P. Sand, Jr., with whom she shared 18 years of marriage.

A visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. June 11 at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (250 W. State St., Kennett Square). Her funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.

Donata believed very deeply in the value of the work she did. As such, in lieu of flowers, her family encourages you to make a donation in her name to the ARC of Chester County, 900 Lawrence Dr., West Chester, PA 19380. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.