Thomas Arnold
Thomas Arnold, of West Chester, passed away on March 4, 2024 while surrounded by his family at his home. He was 95.

He was the husband of the late Mary C. Arnold, with whom he shared 66 years of marriage. 

Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, he was a son of the late Thomas Arnold and the late Carolyn Martina (Schmidt) Arnold.

Survivors include his two sons, Clarke Arnold of West Chester and Stephen Arnold of Astoria, Oregon, three granddaughters, Molly Arnold, Katie Arnold, and Megan Arnold, one grandson, Michael Arnold, and his two great-grandchildren, Thomas Arnold and Grace Arnold.

Thomas graduated from Syracuse University in 1953 and earned his MBA in 1967 from San Francisco State.  He served our country as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne.

Thomas worked in business for 20 years and had a second career as a college professor. He taught at various colleges including Philadelphia Community College, Ursinus College, and West Chester University and was also the chairman for the business department for Beaver College (Now Arcadia University).  

He was a friend of the Unitarian Congregation of West Chester. Thomas was an avid fencer and coach.  In his free time, he became a stamp collector, poet, storyteller, and built and painted toy soldiers from scratch. Thomas loved to travel and saw much of the world with his late wife.

A memorial service celebrating Thomas’ life will be held privately for the family and close friends.  

To leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

Christina Louise Weimer Hollars
Christina “Tina” Louise Weimer Hollars, of Elkton Md. and formerly of New London, Pa., went home to be with the Lord on March 9, 2024. She was 71.

Tina was born in 1952, the daughter of Richard Weimer and Barbara Hackman Weimer of Chatham, Pa. Tina grew up in the Southern Chester County area and graduated from Avon Grove High School in 1970.  

Tina met David, the love of her life, on Mother’s Day in 1968, and they shared the rest of their lives together raising their three children and then adoring their grandchildren.  Tina and Dave were high school sweethearts, best friends, and amazing partners in life. After his passing, Tina would carry on her life without Dave for 14 years, but never stopped missing, cherishing, and loving him.  

Tina was a wife and mom, first and foremost.  A fierce advocate for her children, she instilled in them resilience, strength, and a love that would carry them through their lives.  She took exceptional pride in her children, grandchildren, and her home.  She welcomed many into her home and heart and was a source of strength and a friend to not only her children, but their friends as well.  Tina loved spending time with her family. She and Dave would spend summers on the Chesapeake boating and winters snowmobiling in the mountains of Lycoming County.  These times were filled with laughter, good food and drink—the best of times, filled with the best of people!

Tina never met a stranger and the family was always amused by her stories of individuals she met, comforted or ran into at the grocery store who would tell her their life story. She was funny, witty, and tough as nails.  Tina was strong in her convictions, a defender for those who couldn’t defend themselves and would not hesitate to stand up for her beliefs, her children and those she loved.  She was a force to be reckoned with, a beautiful, well-dressed force.  Tina was beautiful inside and out and her taste was impeccable, whether she was decorating her home or dressing for the grocery store, she was always perfect.  Her ability to accessorize and put together anything from everyday clothes attire to home furnishings and holiday decorations, was unmatched.  

Later in life, Tina would become “Gigi” to some of her favorite people.  She was the unconventional, cool, wisdom-dropping grandmother who held so much pride and adoration for her grandchildren. She would insist on keeping all traditions alive and would ensure the annual Christmas sweater cookie decorating championship was taken with the seriousness it deserved. She loved animals and her four-legged children and grandchildren brought so much joy to her life. Whether she was meandering through the countryside with Dave and her Yorkies, taking them on horse-and-buggy rides in Lancaster or teaching her grandchildren Milo, Lucas, and Griffin, how to sing—her joy was boundless for these special companions. 

Tina is survived by and will continue to be honored and loved by her children, Gwendolyn Hollars Sensenig of West Grove, Heather Hollars and her husband George Blake of Landenberg, and Brent Hollars of Landenberg, and her grandchildren, Savannah Sensenig, Tristan Sensenig, Wyatt Sensenig, Viviana Hollars and Avalon Hollars. Also surviving are a sister, Barbara Ann Kinnamon, a host of nieces and nephews whom she adored and loved, as well as her late husband’s siblings. She thought of them as her own brothers and sisters.

Tina is, at last, with her husband Dave. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Gwendolyn Helen Weimer, her parents, Richard and Barbara Weimer and her beloved puppies Puddin, Cassie and Milo.  

A memorial and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Chandler Funeral Home at 7230 Lancaster Pike in Hockessin, Del. Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and a memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m.  

For online condolences, please visit www.chandlerfuneralhome.com.

Larry A. Testa
Larry A. Testa, 80, of Cochranville, Pa., passed away in West Chester, Pa. on March 20, 2024. He was the loving, devoted husband and best friend of Stephania (Losito) Testa. On March 16, they celebrated 50 years of marriage. Born in Meyersdale, Pa., he was the son of the late Andrew S. and Esther (Swearman) Testa.

Larry graduated from Salesianum High School and worked at General Motors for 10 years. Then he started his lifelong passion as a general contractor. He loved building, excavating and plowing snow. If any family members or friends ever need help, all they had to do was call Larry and he was there. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed many turkey and bear seasons with his boys and friends in Somerset County. He was a lifetime member of the Avondale Fire Company.

In addition to his his wife, he is survived by his sons, Matt (Cheri) Testa of Reading, Pa. and Jacob (Carrie) Testa of Oxford, and his precious grandchildren, Bane and Sasha, as well as his niece Celeste Palmer and nephew Mark Czarnota. He was preceded in death by his daughter Megan Testa and his sister Bonnie Czarnota.

As per Larry's request, there will be no funeral. Just remember all the good times you had with a great guy. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Salvation Army Coatesville Corps or to the Brandywine Valley SPCA.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg, Pa. Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com.

Vincent Jacob Bonkoski
Vincent Jacob Bonkoski died at the age of 83 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Oxford.

He was born in Conshohocken, Pa. to Florence (Woznicki) and Vincent Bonkoski Sr.

Vincent was preceded in death by his wife, Jane (Nagel) and granddaughter Kimberly Hill. 

He is survived by a sister, Jean Lodge (Ed), his daughter, Stephanie Hill (Walt), a son, Doug, and grandchildren, Tyler Albany (Megan), Laura Fingerle, Joleen Hill, and Ashly Bonkoski.

A talented athlete, Mr. Bonkoski excelled as a quarterback first at Conshohocken High School followed by two consecutive Pennsylvania State College championships at West Chester University under the legendary coaches Glenn Killinger and Jim Bonder. He graduated with a bachelor's degree and began a long teaching and coaching career. He earned his master’s degree in English at Rowan University while serving as a teacher and head football coach at  Clearview Regional, Pleasantville, and Williamstown high schools in New Jersey. During those years, he continued his academic career at Rutgers University and the University of Delaware. He also spent two years coaching and teaching English at West Chester University.

A lifelong reader and cinema lover, he had a special love of poetry and was published in the literary journals Aurorean, Moonshade and others. He also published three volumes of his own work: Hook and Pitch, Seasons Four, and This Lateness Singing.

His unique, friendly, and quirky personality won him many friends, and he will be fondly remembered and missed by all of them.

Services are private.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.  

Mitchell Raymond Otho Bacot
Beloved Mitchell Raymond Otho Bacot passed away onward to his Home and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Pi Day, March 14, 2024. This is fitting, since he was a math instructor, and pi is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.

Mitchell was 42, and just six days shy of his 43rd birthday, on the day that he passed. He was “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).  He was a son and grandson, a brother, nephew, husband, father, and friend to many. His identity was as a child of God first, and it remains so, for eternity. 

He was born in Bryn Mawr, Pa. on March 20, 1981 to Karen Diane and Randy Ray Bacot.  

His legacy lives on through his family, which includes his wife, Jenamarie, and children, Abishai, (age 15), Micah (13), Hezekiah (12), Shiloh (9), Joah (7) and Ezra (4). He is also survived by his mother, Karen; his sisters, Amber (Scott) Fitzgerald, Carly (Nathan) Bear; his nieces, Jordan, Scarlett, Saige, Hannah, Whitney and Brooklyn; his nephews, Austin, Finian, Liam and Jacob; his grandparents, Rosemarie “Nana” Onley, Nancy “Mammaw” Bacot, and Julian Bacot; many uncles and aunts and cousins; and the family dog, Snowy.

He is preceded by his father, Randy and grandfather, Wendell Onley. 

A celebration of life will be held  at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 at Anchor Christian Church at 375 Beaver Road in Rochester, NY. A reception will follow. For those who cannot attend, the service will be live-streamed. Please visit anchorchristian.org for further information. Because of the small size of the sanctuary, it is humbly and respectfully asked that priority be given to family members and wheelchair users. Once the sanctuary is full, you may be escorted to rooms close by in the church building that will have the event live-streamed on a TV.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF.org), and earmark your donation to “NF2 research/clinical trial” in Mitchell’s memory.  

The family asks that, as a gift to those who knew and loved him, between now and the service, you would consider taking some time to write about your story with Mitchell and include a picture (or a few!) and bring it to the service. There will be a designated box for the stories and photos or you can email your story to [email protected]. Your story, and the stories of many others, will be put together to become Beloved Mitchell’s legacy book.  If you have already sent your story, it is kindly requested that you send it again using the gmail address above. Mitchell’s children are young, and your stories will allow them to know and remember their beautiful father.