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Chester County Press

Obituaries for the week of Jan. 20

01/21/2020 12:39PM ● By Steven Hoffman

CALVIN H. LILLEY, III

Calvin H. Lilley, III, 68, of Cochranville, passed away peacefully at his home on Jan. 12.

Born in West Chester, he was the son of the late Calvin, II and Jane Massey Lilley.

Calvin was a veteran of the U.S. Navy for 33 years and served in the Vietnam War as a submariner on the USS Abraham Lincoln. He was a devoted hardworking man who was employed at Longwood Gardens for over twenty years and Lincoln University for 17 years.

He loved participating in tractor pulls and was a member of the Rough & Tumble Historical Assoc., Kinzer and Southern New Jersey Gas Engines and Tractors Association.

He is survived by four children, Julie Lewis, Travis Thompson, Tifani Lilley and April Lilley; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother, Albert Lilley; and two sisters, Sharon Evans and Annamary Padilla. 

Funeral services were held on Jan. 17 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., 86 Pine St., Oxford.

Interment was in Faggs Manor Cemetery, Cochranville with full military honors.

 In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to American Legion Mason Dixon Post #194, 338 E. Main St., Rising Sun, MD 21911.

Arrangements by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., Oxford.

Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

MARIE M. GIBSON

Marie M. Gibson passed away on Jan. 9 at her home at the age of 90. 

She was the wife of John McColm Gibson, who passed away in 2003, and with whom she shared 53 years of marriage.

She was born in Kennett Square on May 24, 1929, and was the daughter of Benjamin I. and Anna C. Myers. She was preceded in death by her brother Merrill Myers.

After graduating from Kennett High School in 1947, Marie worked in the library at DuPont prior to having her children and starting Gibsons Mushrooms with her husband.

Marie often reflected on how fortunate she was to have been born into a large family of aunts, uncles, and cousins who were each other’s best friends and who enjoyed getting together weekly for family dinners that filled her parent’s home to capacity.  Annual family reunions were held at Hibernia Park in Coatesville to accommodate extended family.

As a child, Marie played often at Longwood Gardens, her second home, while her father, brother and uncles worked. She loved the recent fountain renovations and thoroughly enjoyed attending the concerts.  She could watch the fireworks from the yard of her home and appreciated how they always scheduled the first firework show of the year to coincide with her birthday weekend. 

In 1950, Marie and Jack were married in the yard of her family home and in 1967 they built their dream home on the property adjoining her parents. 

As a mother and wife, Marie loved nothing more than to take care of her family and to entertain friends.  Her doors were always open and her famous iced tea was always on the ready for company.

Marie and Jack shared many interests including travelling around the world, growing vegetables in their large gardens, and, later in life, their Friday date nights which consisted of dinner at Charcoal Pit and then Booths Corner Auction where they looked for antiques to add to their collection.  Marie was also an accomplished piano player whose rendition of The Entertainer, a favorite Ragtime song, would always get the party guests dancing.

When the grandchildren started to come along, she could always be found in the rocking chair or giving one of her famous back scratches.  She was also a champion at UNO and nearly undefeatable at Chinese checkers.

Marie is survived by her son, John M. Gibson, II, daughter, Susan D. Gibson, and son Robert J. (Lora) Gibson, all of Kennett Square; her grandchildren, Erin M. (John) Panasuk, John M. Gibson, III, Christopher I. Gibson, Kayla M. Gibson, Nicholas W. Gibson, and Katherine A. Gibson; and her great-grandchildren, Joshua C. McMillan and Norah F. Panasuk; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life was held on Jan. 18 at the Presbyterian Church of Kennett Square. Interment was at Union Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Willow Tree Hospice, 616 E Cypress St, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

DORIS M. BORCHERDING

Doris Marie Borcherding, 88, of Oxford, went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 15, while surrounded by the family that treasured her.

Born in and a longtime resident of Oxford, she was the daughter of John Walter and Laura Lee Cregger Brown, and the wife of the late Earl R. Borcherding, with whom she shared 49 years of marriage.

Doris was the nucleus of the large and loving family she raised with faith in God, love of His Word, and respect for all.  She was a true homemaker whose door was always open. She loved to cook, and whether feeding 20 at home or 200 at her church, she always put on a good spread.  Her motto was “if you feed them, they will come” and her chicks, who were many, always came home. 

Doris was a longtime member of Truth and Life Center of North East, Md.

She is survived by her son, Earl Anderson, and beloved daughter-in law, Nancy Anderson, of Nottingham; five daughters, Vicki Wilson (Edmund) of Oxford, Julia Barker (Alvin) of Nottingham, Teresa Miller (Randy) of Rising Sun, Md., Joy Stephens (Gregory) of North East, Md. and Ellen Schlegel of Rising Sun, Md.; seventeen grandchildren; thirty-four great-grandchildren; one brother, Larry Brown; three sisters, Nancy Ragan, Agnes Dutton and Connie Akers.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and two brothers, Cedric Brown and Arthur "Otsy" Brown.

Funeral services were held on Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. at Truth and Life Center, 1924 W. Pulaski Hwy, North East, Md.  Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “Amedisys Foundation” in her memory and mailed to 3854 American Way, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70816. 

A special thanks to hospice for the priceless care and assistance they provided to the family.
Arrangements by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., Oxford.
Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

RONALD CARLUCCI

Ronald Carlucci of West Grove, passed away on Jan. 9 in Christiana Hospital at the age of 30.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joseph Bellotti and Carmella and Armand Carlucci.

Ronald is survived by his parents Donna (nee Bellotti) and Ronald Carlucci, Sr.; sisters Marisa, Lauren, and Gina; grandmother Jacqueline Bellotti; nieces Victoria and Carmella Jean, and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. at Kuzo Funeral Home, 250 W. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

Memorial donations in Mr. Carlucci’s name may be made to Gift of Life, 401 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.

MARTIN G. MALBONE

Martin G. Malbone, a resident of West Grove, has passed away at the age of 74.

He was born in Potsdam, NY on May 26, 1945.  He was the son of the late Livingston and Catherine (nee Miller) Malbone.  Marty served in the Navy and was employed, until retiring, by NVF in Kennett Square. 

He was married to Carolyn S. (nee Little) Miller Malbone for 37 years.  He is survived by his brother Nelson (Sharon) and sister Catherine “Kay” (Steve) Jesmer.  He was predeceased by his siblings Rowen Malbone, Eleanor Lobar, and Julia “Judy” Cook.  He is survived by daughter Amy (Bruce) Johnston, son Martin, Jr., and stepson Gale (Nancy) Miller, and grandchildren Donny, Bradley, Andrew “A.J.” Danny, Mathew, Brady, and Jasmine, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by sons, Andrew, Mathew, and daughter Stephanie.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. with a visitation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church, 408 Bayard Road in Kennett Square. Rev. Robert L. Vannoy will be officiating.  Interment will follow at Union Hill Cemetery.  Funeral arrangements are being handled by Kuzo Funeral Home. 

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church.