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Chester County Press

Obituaries the week of June 8

06/09/2020 01:09PM ● By Steven Hoffman

Lawrie R. Drennen

Lawrie R. Drennen, a lifetime resident of Oxford, passed away on June 6 at his home. He was 89.

He was the husband of Inez Lloyd Drennen, with whom he shared 67 years of marriage.

Born in Coatesville, he was the son of the late Lawrence C. and Miriam Wright Drennen.

Lawrie was class officer of his Oxford Senior High School graduating class of 1948.

He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Lawrie was the president of Oxford Grain and Hay for sixty-seven years. The Oxford Grain and Hay is the oldest continuously operating business in the Oxford area and the second oldest Purina dealer in the United States.  He remained active in the family business throughout his life.

He was a member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church, member and past president of the Oxford Lions Club, thirty-second degree member and past Master of the Oxford Lodge #353 F.&A.M., and member of the Union Fire Co., No. 1, Oxford. He was also had served as a board member of the I.V.B. Bank.

He is survived by his wife; three children, Barbara Stricker (and her husband, Forrest), Lawrie Drennen, Jr. (and his wife, Diana)  and Chris Drennen (and his wife, Marie); ten grandchildren Allison Denlinger (Michael), Gregory Stricker (Stacy), Jeffrey Stricker (Krista), Lauren Bohnert (Christian), Alicia McGarvey (Michael John), Lindsey Drennen, Alizabeth Rinda (Kyle), Amanda Drennen (Alex Cantarera), Devin Drennen and Chandler Drennen; and twelve great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Beverly Daniels and brother, Donald L. Drennen.

Service and interment are private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lawrie’s memory may be made to the Oxford Are Senior Center, 12 E. Locust St., Oxford, PA 19363.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., Oxford.
Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

CHARLES RICHARD HERBERT

Charles Richard Herbert, age 81, of Newark, Del., passed away peacefully on May 26, with his loving family by his side. 

Born in Stewartstown, Pa., Charles was the son of the late Charles K. and Rovena (Heiss).  He was a graduate of Kennard-Dale High School Class of 1956 in Fawn Grove, where he played the English horn in the band.  After graduating, Charles was stationed in England with the U. S. Air Force, where he met the love of his life and future wife, Carol.  

From 1970 until his retirement, he was the sole proprietor and accountant for Charles Herbert Accounting in Oxford.  

Charles loved his family, especially spending time with his children and grandchildren. Although he was a workaholic, Charles still found plenty of time for family and friends.  He enjoyed traveling with Carol, as well as a trip to Arizona with his sister Marlene to visit their sister Charlotte. He loved weekend trips to Pennsylvania to spend time with family, as well as attending the annual Herbert family reunions

Charles will be remembered as a jokester, and he loved to pull pranks. His office wall of tax accounting cartoons also reflected his sense of humor. 

In his leisure time, Charles loved playing cards, having a few drinks and cracking a few jokes with friends.  He also enjoyed going to the horse races and playing horseshoes with neighbors.  While in Pennsylvania, prior to moving to Delaware, he was involved with and was proud of his time as a Boy Scout troop leader.  Charles was an avid Phillies and Eagles fan and supported his grandchildren when they played football and soccer. 

Charles is predeceased by his beloved wife of 60 years, Carol Herbert; his parents; his brother, Harold Waltemyer; his sisters, Charlotte Ruff, Shirley Eaton and Phyllis Hill; and his granddaughter, Heather Ferris. 

He is survived by his children, Linda Dalton (Richard), Wayne Herbert, Beverley Ferris (William), and Kenneth Herbert; his 14 grandchildren (12 boys and 2 girls); his 13 great-grandchildren (9 boys and 4 girls); and his sister, Marlene Corcoran.

Family and friends may visit on Monday, June 15 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, Del., where a celebration of Charles’ life will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will be private. CDC guidelines will be followed during the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 750 Pride’s Crossing, Suite 110, Newark, DE 19713 or the Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, 140 Old Orangeburg Rd., Orangeburg, NY 10962, ATTN: Ralph Nixon, M.D., Ph.D.

To offer condolences, visit www.dohertyfh.com.


RICHARD WHITEHEAD, SR.

Richard Dorrance Whitehead Sr. passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer on May 22 at his home at Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community.

He was born in Auburn, NY on May 1, 1932 to the late Louis Henry Whitehead and the late Dorothy Hawthorne Whitehead.

Dick celebrated his 88th birthday three weeks prior to his passing. He and Doris, his wife of 63 years, recently moved to the area from their beloved Lake Edge Farm, on Black Lake in New York where he had resided for thirty years.

As a young child, Dick lived in Maplewood, NJ and attended local schools. Dick graduated

from Columbia High School. Dick met his wife, Doris Kleissler, while he was a senior in high

school. He attended Williams College and graduated with high honors from Rutgers University

School of Business in 1955.

In 1955, Dick joined Ernst & Ernst a Certified Public Accounting firm now known as Ernst and Young for a lifelong career in auditing. His career began in the firm’s New York City office. Shortly after joining the firm he was drafted into the Army serving from 1956 to 1958. After completing his service, Dick returned to his career at Ernst & Ernst. In 1967, Dick was transferred to Caracas, Venezuela to manage Ernst and Ernst’s Venezuelan offices for more than 7 years. Dick, Doris and their three children have very fond memories of the years they lived in Venezuela. 

In 1970, Dick was named a partner of the firm.  In 1974, Dick and his family relocated to the Hartford, Connecticut area where he continued his career. In 1979, Dick then joined the firm’s national legal team as an audit advisor to the lawyers. During the last ten years of his career, he combined his depth of accounting knowledge with his interest in business law. Back in 1955, he attended New York University Law School but decided to concentrate on his accounting career. Dick retired from Ernst and Young in 1989.

Dick and his wife retired to a farm on Black Lake in the North Country of New York. As a child

he had enjoyed working on his grandparents’ farms and especially enjoyed the time with the

animals. Their Lake Edge Farm was known as their hobby farm and he raised chickens, horses,

cows, goats and donkeys and even peacocks. Fondly known as the “Eggman” of Lake Edge

Farm, his eggs were special because they could not be purchased. Dick gave away dozens of

eggs each week. After 23 years, he then decided to downsize so that he could travel more.

Dick and Doris visited many foreign countries, traveled in their RV and visited all 48 contiguous states in the United States and many provinces in Canada. Dick was also very active in his community. He was an elder with Ogdensburg Presbyterian Stone Church, on the Board of Directors of the Frederic Remington Art Museum and a board member of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association.

He is survived by his loving wife, Doris, and three children, Pamela Cornforth (Doug), Richard Whitehead Jr. (Jane) and Theodore Whitehead (Anastasia) and seven grandchildren, Ashley, Bradley, Anna, Rebecca, Richard, Theo and Zoe and three great-grandchildren, Jackson, Alice and Benjamin, , and his brother Louis Henry Whitehead ( Sandra).  

He was predeceased by a brother, Donald Wharton Whitehead.

In lieu of flowers, you may wish to send donations to Ogdensburg Presbyterian Stone Church, 533 Stone Church Road, Ogdensburg, NY 13669, or to Frederic Remington Art Museum 303 Washington St. Ogdensburg NY or a charity of your choice.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be a  future memorial service and burial at Ogdensburg Presbyterian Stone Church in Ogdensburg, New York.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit  www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.


Lawrence Lee Rice

Lawrence Lee Rice, a resident of Oxford, passed away on May 27 at home. He was 67.

Born in Havre de Grace, Md., he was the son of the late Lester Grover and Viola Clare McFadden Rice.

Lawrence was employed as a truck driver with Manfredi Mushrooms and Basciani Mushrooms in Toughkenamon.

He was a handyman and enjoyed the outdoors and yard work.  

He is survived by his lifelong companion of 40 years, Ruth Horne; one daughter, Carrie Rice Sentz of Md.; four step-daughters, Kathy Reburn (Saul) of Oxford, Carrie Stokes (Terrance) of Oxford, Susan Townsend (Ed) of Wilmington, Del. and Kim Horne (Alfredo) of West Grove; two step-sons, Kenny Horne of Lancaster and Jeff Horne (Becky) of Tifton, GA; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jennie Rice Rowe; a step-son, Danny Horne; four brothers, Donald, Ricky, Kenny and Lester Rice; and three sisters, Patsy, Sara Jane and Pearl.

Services are private.

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

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


Barbara M. Wiley

Barbara M. Wiley, 77, of Oxford, passed away on May 29 in Penn Hospice in West Chester.

She was the wife of the late Harry Wiley, Jr.

Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Catherine Skvoretz Kuhns.

Barbara was retired from H.J. Heinz Co., West Chester.

She enjoyed riding horses, playing BINGO with friends, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by one daughter, Lisa Peak (and her husband, Mike) of Oxford; three grandchildren, Jordan Folker of Mt Joy, Brandon Lederman (and his wife Sarah) of Rising Sun, Md. and Rachel Peak of Oxford; and one niece Lori Marcks of Henderson, NC.

She was preceded in death by her son, Brett W. Lederman and sister, Monica Otter.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to an animal rescue of your choice.

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

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


JAMES JOHN FIORE

James John Fiore, a lifelong resident of the Kennett Square area, passed away on June 2 at Chester County Hospital. He was 74.

Born September 16, 1945 at Chester County Hospital, he was the son of the late Charles, Sr. and Caroline Fiore (Sarmento).

Jim graduated from Kennett High School and served in the Maryland National Guard, being honorably discharged in 1971. He worked for Hewlett Packard in the Accounting Department, then various other local establishments throughout life. 

In his youth, Jim was an excellent saxophone player and was a member of several bands, including The Galaxys, The Bonnevilles, and Little Eddie’s Band. He was also an avid baseball player and was a member of the Italian American Club. Jim had a passion for local horse racing and enjoyed spending time at the track.

He is survived by his brother, David M. Fiore (and his wife Tracy); a nephew, Dominic and a niece, Olivia of Port Republic, Md.; cousins Elaine Fiore of Kennett Square; Maria Fiore; Trish Fiore-Groff; his aunt, Elvira Passmore; and numerous friends and family. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Charles J. Fiore, Jr. 

A private graveside service will be held at St. Patrick Cemetery in Kennett Square.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory (In Memory of James Fiore) to The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 42040, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, or at www.cancer.org.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home, Kennett Square.