William C. Gamble

William C. Gamble passed away of heart disease on Oct. 30. He was 91.

Born in 1929 in North Carolina, he graduated from Avon Grove High School in 1947 and married Anne Marie, his high school sweetheart, in 1951.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He was assigned to the chemical warfare division.

Gamble spent his entire career in the banking industry. He joined the National Bank and Trust Company of Kennett Square in 1957 as a teller and worked his way up to the rank of vice president. In 1971, he became president of the Dime Savings Bank of Chester County (which became the Bank of Chester County) and stayed there until he retired. 

In addition to his decades of on-the-job experience, he took courses at Bucknell and Rutgers universities.

Gamble held leadership roles in several local professional and service organizations. He was a member of the executive committee of the Chester County Bankers Association and served as president of the Board of Governors at Jennersville Hospital and vice president of the Southeastern Chester County Chamber of Commerce. He was also active in the Avon Grove Lions Club and the Kennett Square Jaycees.

Gamble and his wife were longtime members of the Kennett Square Golf and Country Club. They were both avid golfers, and they moved to Pawleys Island, SC, after he retired. 

He returned to West Chester in June 2020 due to failing health.

Gamble shared 49 years of marriage with his wife until her death. His daughter, Dawn, also predeceased him. 

Survivors are his daughter Denise (husband Jack) Mizrahi; grandsons Jared Mizrahi, of Lancaster, and Jordan Mizrahi, of West Chester; and his niece, Sandy Greene, of Landenberg.

Services will be private.

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.

 

Carlos B. Trimble

Carlos B. Trimble, age 90, passed away peacefully on Oct. 28 at Kendal Crosslands in Kennett Square.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Craig Trimble, with whom he shared 69 years of loving marriage.

Born 1930 in West Grove, Carlos was the son of the late J. Arthur Trimble and the late Blanche May Trimble.

Carlos proudly served his country as a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Carlos was passionate about restoration and talented at breathing new life into old cars. In his free time, he enjoyed woodworking and gardening. Carlos was deeply invested in the lives of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He thoroughly enjoyed every minute he spent with them and loved being a part of watching them grow.

Carlos was patient, determined, intelligent and loving. All will truly miss the warmth and kindness he brought to their lives.

In addition to his wife, Ruth, Carlos is survived by his daughter, Susie Gouge (John) of West Grove; his sons, Nicholas (Sharon) Trimble of Newark, Del. and Mark C. Trimble of Wilmington, Del.; 10 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren. 

He was predeceased by his sons, Thomas C. Trimble, Rodney L. Trimble and Timothy D. Trimble; as well as his brother, James A. Trimble.

A graveside service was held for Carlos on Nov. 4 at New London Presbyterian Cemetery.

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

Joseph Lafayette Pugh

Joseph “Joe” Lafayette Pugh passed away on Nov. 1 at his home in Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford. He was 91.

He was born to Emmett and Bessie Yates Pugh on Sept. 20, 1929 in Konnarock, VA along with his twin sister, Mary who arrived first. Their grandmother always said, “He kicked her out!”

Joe lived in Konnarock with his parents and seven siblings until moving to Pennsylvania as a teenager.  Shortly thereafter, he met his future wife, Helen Fritz. While waiting for her to finish her schooling, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served two years in Germany followed by five years in the Army Reserves. 

Joe and Helen, who he always called by her childhood nickname “Huddie,” married on Oct. 28, 1950. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Oct. 28, just four days before his death.

He is survived by his wife; one sister, Mary; numerous loving nieces and nephews; and goddaughter, Lisa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his six siblings, Luna, Arlene, Cecil, Paul, Gladys and Robert.

A graveside service with full military honors was held on Nov. 5 at Longwood Cemetery in Kennett Square.

In lieu of flowers, Joe requested donations to Union Presbyterian Church, 5637 Street Road, Kirkwood, PA 17536.

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

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

Dr. Charles E. MacKenzie 

Dr. Charles E. (Charlie) MacKenzie, age 85, died on Nov. 1 in Oxford. 

The son of the late Carolyn A. and James B. MacKenzie, Charlie was born in Philadelphia on Feb. 11, 1935.  

He was a graduate of J. P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Duke University, and Hahnemann Medical University.  He served with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Charlie completed his medical training at Akron General Hospital in Akron, OH, and York Hospital in York, PA. He entered into partnership with Warren Surgeons in 1970, where he practiced for 27 years.  

Following retirement, he was employed as Medical Director of the Transitional Care Center at Warren General Hospital, then as executive director of the Community Foundation of Warren County until his retirement in 2015.

Charlie served the Warren community in many capacities.  He was active in the First United Methodist Church, The Warren Lions Club, United Fund, Warren Public Library, Hospice of Warren County and the board of Warren General Hospital. He served as president of the Warren County Medical Society and was a recipient of the WCCBI Community Service Award in 2001.

He was married to Catharine MacKenzie (nee Riggs) of Oxford and is survived by three children,  Susan MacKenzie (Craig Bertolett) of Vienna, VA, Sharon MacKenzie of Simsbury, CT, and James MacKenzie (Kathleen MacKenzie) of Oxford; two grandchildren,  Elisabeth MacKenzie Bertolett (Francis Main) of Christchurch, New Zealand; and Michael Charles Crimmins of Seattle, WA. 

He was predeceased by his brother James A. MacKenzie and survived by James’s wife Susan MacKenzie and their children Carol MacKenzie and James MacKenzie (Kacy Byers MacKenzie).

A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family at First United Methodist Church in Warren. 

Contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Community Foundation of Warren County, Warren Public Library, Hospice of Warren County and Willow Tree Hospice of Chester County. 

Arrangements are being handled by Ruffenach Funeral Services (www.ruffenachfuneralhome.com) of Oxford. 

Jose Manuel Sanchez, Jr.

Jose Manuel Sanchez, Jr., 52, of West Grove, passed away on Oct. 29 at home.

Born in West Chester, he was the son of Jose Manuel Sanchez, Sr. of Puerto Rico and Geraldine McCollum Lipat of Nottingham.

Jose loved the Philadelphia Eagles and was looking forward to having his first grandchild. 

He is survived by his parents, two sons, Jesse Laird of Mt. Union and Austin Sanchez of Oxford. He is also survived by one granddaughter on the way, Khloe Ann-Grace; two brothers, Kenneth M. Sanchez of Oxford and Daniel M. Sanchez of Ephrata; two nieces, Brittney Sanchez and Alexis Sanchez; two nephews, Alec Sanchez and Daniel Sanchez, Jr.; and one great-nephew, Boston Fusco.

Services and interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. to offset funeral expenses.

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

Shirley Grace Trautman

Shirley Grace Trautman passed away peacefully at her home in Lincoln University on Nov. 5. She was 76.

Born 1944 in Mountain City, TN, Shirley was the daughter of the late George T. Forrester and Frances M. Forrester.

Shirley was known for her quiet and kind personality.  She put everyone else first.  She loved to cook for her family and made every holiday special.  Her deep love for “her boys” was known by all and family was her focus.  Shirley loved a nice warm fire in the wood stove and enjoyed sitting outside watching birds, nature and beautiful flowers bloom in the sunshine.  She enjoyed shopping, the holiday seasons, and was always looking forward to the first snowfall.  She worked very hard her entire life and had a long career at Lau Electronics, Inc. and then retired from Genesis HealthCare in Kennett Square. 

Shirley is survived by her husband, Thomas E. Trautman, with whom she shared 57 years of marriage; her sons, Richard (Lisa), Daniel (Kathy), and Michael; as well as her brother, Lee Forrester; and her 4 grandchildren, Daniel Jr, Nicholas, Grace and Ryan.  

Shirley was predeceased by her father, George, her mother, Frances and 3 brothers, Wallace, Willard and Jerry.

A private memorial service will be held due to COVID-19 restrictions.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

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

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

Alfred Thomas Powell

Alfred Thomas Powell passed away on Nov. 5 at his residence in the Unionville area while surrounded by his wife and daughters. He was 78.

He was the loving and devoted husband of 53 years to Christina Filomena (Fazio) Powell.  Born on May 4, 1942 in West Chester, he was the son of the late Alfred Hunter Powell and Dorothy (Hironimus-Powell) Bolin.

 In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three daughters, Tina Carroll (and husband Harry Luff) of Downingtown, Stephanie Swarbrick (and husband Paul) of Downingtown, and Julia Powell (and husband Patrick Doody) of Garnet Valley; and the grandchildren, Larry Carroll, Mena Carroll, Colin Swarbrick, Sydney Swarbrick, Ellie Doody, and Nate Doody.

In his youth, Tom was an avid athlete and one of his proudest accomplishments was playing in the 1953 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.  His athletic excellence continued at Unionville High School where he was a multi-sport athlete before graduating in the class of 1960.   He continued his education at Goldey-Beacom College before serving his country in the U.S. Army.  After being honorably discharged, he returned to Kennett Square where he worked in the mushroom industry until his retirement.  

In 1967 Tom met and married the love of his life Christina and they settled in the Unionville area.  While raising their three daughters, he shared his love of sports by coaching them in URA basketball and umpiring their URA softball games.  This love was even more apparent when attending all of his grandchildren’s sporting events and activities.  In addition to sports, Tom had many hobbies that included collecting baseball cards, cooking, playing cards, golfing, darts, dancing, hunting, and photography.

In his happiest moments he could be found spending summers in Rehoboth Beach with the family, traveling the United States and Caribbean with Christina, going to the movies, volunteering at Jennersville Hospital and observing nature in any form.  Most of all, he will be remembered for his infectious laugh, amazing sense of humor and being the most kind and gentle man to everyone he met. 

Friends will be received on Thursday, Nov. 12 at St. Malachi Roman Catholic Church, 76 St. Malachi Road in Cochranville, Pa. where guests will be received at 10 a.m. followed by a memorial mass at 11 a.m.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Willow Tree Hospice of Kennett Square or the Helen Graham Cancer Center in Newark, Del.  

His interment will be private.  

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