MARTHA TODD KLINGLER

Martha Todd Klingler, 99, of Oxford, passed away on March 17 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford.

She was the wife of the late Albert M. Klingler, and was preceded in death by her first husband, William R. Todd, Jr. Born in Wayne, she was the daughter of the late Arthur R. and Martha Alice Westgarth Danby. She was a member of the Oxford United Methodist Church. Martha was employed with M. F. Williams Funeral Home in Clifton Heights. She started at the age of 15 and retired when she was 80 years of age.

She is survived by one granddaughter; one grandson; two great-grandchildren; and a God-daughter. She was preceded in death by her one son, William Robert Todd, III; and siblings, Stephen Danby Arthur “Tuck” Danby, William Danby, John Lionel Danby, Ralph Danby, Edward Danby, Edith Rineer and Margaret Stone.

A graveside service was held March 23 at the Glenwood Memorial Gardens in Broomall. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Willow Tree Hospice, 616 E. Cypress St., Kennett Square, PA 19348. Visit www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com. 

HELEN ANN GEHR BURKHART

Helen Ann Gehr Burkhart, 87, of Shreveport, La., formerly of Avondale, where she had lived for 51 years, passed away on March 13 at the Colonial Oaks Nursing Center in Louisiana.

She was  the wife of Jay Burkhart, who passed away in 2003, and with whom she shared 51 years of marriage. Born in Ephrata, she was the daughter of the late Harry Gehr and the late M. Kathryn Bard Gehr. She was a member St. Michael Lutheran Church in Unionville, where she served on numerous committies. She was also a member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. She loved music, singing, art, gardening and being outdoors, and being with her family and friends.

She is survived by one son, Jay Burkhart, Jr. and his wife Cindy of Shreveport, La.;  daughter-in law Susan Burkhart of West Grove; one brother, John Gehr and his wife Beth of New Holland; and four grandchildren. She was predeceased  by one son, Michael Burkhart.

A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. March 30 at St. Michael Lutheran Church (109 E. Doe Run Rd. & Route 82, Unionville. Her funeral will follow at 11 a.m. A 2:30 graveside service will be held Saturday afternoon, March 30, at the Bergstrasse Cemetery in Ephrata. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

 

ETHEL L. BARKER

Ethel L. Barker, 95, of Oxford, passed away on March 14 at the Harrison House in Christiana, Pa.

She was the wife of the late Howard A. Barker. Born in Warrensville, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Frances Church Brooks. Ethel enjoyed gardening, fishing, canning, shopping and traveling.

She is survived by one son, Bennie J. Barker (Kay) of Oxford; two daughters, Elaine Brandt (Carl) of Grassy Creek, N.C., and Sherri Pennington (Rodney) of Peach Bottom; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one brother, Wade Brooks of Deep Gap, N.C. She was preceded in death by a son, Tony Barker; a daughter, Trina Stanley; a grandson, Markus Ruff; and 15 siblings.

A funeral was held March 23. Interment was in Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Holisticare Hospice, 685 Kromer Ave., Berwyn, PA 19312. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

MURIEL E. WETZEL

Muriel E. Wetzel, 96, of Oxford, formerly of Landenberg, passed away on March 17 at Christiana Care Hospital following a severe stroke. 

She was the wife of Roland H. Wetzel, Ph.D., who passed away in 2016, and with whom she shared more than 70 years of marriage. Born in Milwaukee, Wis., she was an only child, the daughter of the late George G. Auler and Ivis H. Uecke Auler. She was a homemaker throughout her married life and had been an active member of Avondale Presbyterian Church since 1958.  She was an avid reader. She read the daily newspaper cover to cover each day, and averaged one to two novels per week.

Mrs. Wetzel is survived by one son, Peter, of Green Cove Springs, Fla.; and five grandchildren. Preceding her in death was her son, James W. Wetzel.

A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. March 29 at Avondale Presbyterian Church (420 Pennsylvania Ave., Avondale).  Her funeral will follow at 11 a.m. Private burial will take place at New London Presbyterian Church Cemetery in New London. In memory of Mrs. Wetzel, and in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Avondale Presbyterian Church, PO Box 446, Avondale, PA 19311. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

 

NANCY THERESA DAVIS

Nancy Theresa Davis, 64, of Oxford, passed away on March 22 at her home.

She was the wife of Keith A. Davis, with whom she shared 29 years of marriage. Born in West Grove, she was the daughter of the late John and Dorothy Farmer Hunter. She graduated from Oxford Area High School class of 1972. She received her Registered Nursing degree from Cecil Community College and also attended Wilmington University for other various nursing degrees. Nancy was employed with Christiana Care Hospital as an infection control nurse. She was a member of various quilting clubs, and especially enjoyed children, gardening and crafts.

She is survived by her husband; two children, Christopher Ham and Lauren Ham, both of Newark, Del.; eight grandchildren; one brother, John Hunter, Jr. of Birdsboro, Pa.; and two sisters, Dianne Caudell of Austin, Pa., and Cindy Kienzlen of Berlin, N.J. She was preceded in death by two sons, Timothy Ham and Mike Davis.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. March 28 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine St., Oxford), where friends and family may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. A private interment will be in Barrett’s Chapel Cemetery in Frederica, Del. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com. 

EVA M. MCNEILL

Eva Melrath McNeill passed away peacefully on March 24 at the age of 87. 

She was born in Oxford in 1931 to Herbert and Mary Jamison Melrath. Eva was a loving grandmother, mother, wife and sister. She cherished her family and adored spending time with her siblings, son and granddaughter. Eva was proud of her many years in the work force. She began working in her teens as a waitress and later spent over 30 years working for NVF in Kennett Square. Eva happily retired in the early 1990s. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Mary Jamison Melrath; her husband, Don McNeill; sister, Vivian “Sis” Taylor; and brothers Jacob, Ross, George, Robert, Clarence “Midge” and Lawrence “Larry” Melrath. She is survived by her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter Michael, Katherine and Grace McNeill; as well as her brother, Harry “Hank” Melrath; and sisters, Ella Fulton and Janet Abrams.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. March 29 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine St., Oxford), where family and friends may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be in Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Oxford Church of the Nazarene,116 E. Locust St., Oxford, PA 19363. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com. 

 

FRANCES P. CROWL

Frances P. Crowl, 98, of Oxford, passed away on March 22 at her home.

She was the wife of the late James B. Crowl, Sr., with whom she shared 50 years of marriage. Born in Blantons, Va., she was the daughter of the late Samuel D. and Pearl L. Gentry Phillippe.  Frances was an active member of Oxford Church of the Nazarene, where she was a Sunday school teacher for 50 years and served on the Board of Stewards. She enjoyed gardening and children, often babysitting for friends and family.

She is survived by three sons, Daniel J. Crowl of Oxford, Thomas P. Crowl of Port Deposit, Md., and Steven D. Crowl of Nitro, W.va.; two daughters, Mary Lee Hastings of Oxford and Deborah Spadaro of Weare, N.H.; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and one expected in the summer; eight great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Edwin A. Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two sons, James Crowl, Jr., and John David Crowl; daughter, Rebecca Crowl granddaughter, Dyana Crowl Davis; grandson Steven Spadaro; brother, Furman Phillippe; and two sisters, Willa Metta Smith and Barbara Varady.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. March 30 at the Oxford Church of the Nazarene (116 East Locust St., Oxford), where friends may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be in Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Oxford Church of the Nazarene. Visit www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.