Obituaries for the week of July 26
07/26/2021 06:49PM ● By Steven Hoffman
Edwin L. Halsey
Edwin L. Halsey, a resident of Oxford, passed away on July 17 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del. He was 67.
He was the husband of Debra M. (Earlywine) Halsey, with whom he shared 42 years of marriage.
Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late John Kent and Mary Mildred (Johnston) Halsey.
Edwin was a general contractor most of his life. He enjoyed spending time outdoors. His true happiness was spending time with family. His biggest honor was being Pop Pop to his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Samantha Halsey (Jeff McComsey) and Rachel Halsey (Shawn Riley); five grandchildren, Emma, Brendan, Ethan, Alexander and Penelope; three brothers, Marvin Halsey of Chambersburg, Melvin Halsey of Nottingham and Roland Halsey of Wilmington, Del.; and two sisters, Delores Halsey of Newark, Del. and Mary Connell of Summit, Del.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Stanley Halsey and sister, Juanita Jones.
A private graveside service will be held in Oxford Cemetery.
A Celebration of Life Gathering was held on July 24 at Nottingham Park.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Donald Alan Lester
Donald Alan Lester, age 88, of Kennett Square, passed away in his sleep on July 10 at his home.
He was the husband of Elizabeth “Betty Ann” (Gilbert) Lester, with whom he shared 64 years of marriage.
Born in Chester, Pa., he was a son of the late Herbert Clifford Lester and Elizabeth Reamy Lester.
Don served our country in the Navy during the Korean War, serving on the USS Bushnell and the USS Picuda Submarine. He received a National Defense Service Ribbon, a Navy Occupation Service Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal for his service.
He was the owner of Lester Water Inc, a water purification company, which was started by his father in 1951. He retired in 1994 when David McKeon, his son-in-law, took over the business. Don was a longtime Rotarian. He joined the Concordville Rotary Club in 1969. When he and his family moved to Kennett Square in 1977, he joined the Rotary Club of Kennett Square. He was named Kennett Square Rotarian of the Year in 2003. He was an active member, serving as president two times (once in each club), as well as participating on many committees and service projects. He was also a member of the Unionville Presbyterian Church, where he loved singing in the choir.
Don was an avid antique car collector, having owned many during his life, including a Pierce Arrow and a Rolls Royce. He enjoyed model trains and had an extensive collection at his home where he would create elaborate outdoor displays. He was also an enthusiastic fisherman, traveling to Canada and many other places with fellow Rotarians.
In his younger days, he loved skiing with his family and his good friend, Stan Saft. He and Betty Ann loved ballroom dancing and traveling together. For a number of years, but especially during COVID, Don enjoyed playing the computer game Civilization with his brother Cliff, trying to conquer the world together.
He will be remembered for his dedication to service in our local community, his ability to remember and tell the many stories of his life, and to hum everywhere he went.
In addition to his wife Betty Ann, Don is survived by two daughters, Patricia McKeon and her husband David of New London, Pa.; Marianne Kennedy and her husband Michael of Oxford; one son, Wayne Lester of Kennett Square; four grandchildren, Erin Dougherty and her husband Steven, Ryan McKeon and his wife Stephanie, Connor Kennedy, and Nicholas Thompson; two great-grandchildren, Lilian Dougherty and Wade McKeon; as well as his brother, H. Clifford Lester and his wife Jean, of San Marino, CA.
He was predeceased by a son, Donald Gilbert Lester in 1977 and his brother, John Lester in 1940.
The memorial service was held on July 23 at the Unionville Presbyterian Church.
The interment will take place at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Rotary Club of Kennett Square, PO Box 291, Kennett Square, PA 19348 or the Unionville Presbyterian Church, 812 Wollaston Rd. Kennett Square, PA 19348.
Arrangements are being handled by Matthew J. Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (1-800-FUNERAL).
Condolences may be made at www.griecofunerals.com.
Marlene A. Reinhart
Marlene A. Reinhart, a longtime resident of West Grove who more recently resided in Coatesville, passed away on July 25 at Wilmington Hospital. She was 71.
She was the wife of the late Richard A. Reinhart, who passed away in 2006.
She was born on Jan. 3, 1950, the daughter of the late Anthony O. and Ida (Dazio) DiNorscia.
Marlene was a graduate of Kennett High School in the class of 1967. She was first a hairstylist and then on Oct. 11, 1997 she started working in the Recorder of Deeds office with Chester County, retiring on Aug. 24, 2013.
In her free time, she enjoyed oldies music and the beach. She also loved cooking around the holidays.
Marlene is survived by her daughters, Lisa Sagers of Quarryville, Debbie Reinhart of Coatesville, and Karen Reinhart of Coatesville and grandchildren Brooklynn and Brandon. She is also survived by her siblings Antoinette D. Issaacs, Richard A. DiNorscia (Lynn) and Diane L. DiNorscia (Eric Green). She will be missed by her longtime friends, Margaret Pennington, Patty Malchione, Marcell Keiter and Freda Simpkins.
Friends will be received on Saturday, July 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove (200 Rose Hill Road in West Grove) where a prayer service will begin at 11 a.m.
Interment will follow at Longwood Cemetery in Kennett Square.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Season’s Hospice at the Wilmington Hospital for all the personal care provided to Marlene.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Marlene Reinhart’s name to Handi-Crafters, PO Box 72646, 215 Barley Sheaf Road, Thorndale, PA 19372.
Please visit Marlene’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
Nancy Elaine McCracken
Nancy Elaine McCracken, 81, of Kennett Square, passed away on July 17 at Reading Hospital in West Reading, Pa.
Born in Wilmington, Del., she was the daughter of the late James Fulks and Mary Brown Fulks.
Nancy graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School and attended Goldey-Beacom College where she studied business.
She was a business owner in the arts and crafts industry for many years. She was well known for being the owner of the Infant Resale Boutique in Wilmington, Del. during the 1970s. She served as a member of the Brandywine Hundred Ladies Auxiliary for many years. Her hobbies were sewing, arts and crafts, and genealogy research.
She will be remembered for her dedication to family and friends and for her love of the beach, especially the Outer Banks, North Carolina, where she spent many summers with family and friends.
In addition to Ed Quinlan, her partner of 20 years, she is survived by her daughter, Sherry McCracken (Dina Engel) of Ventnor City, NJ; her son, Bill McCracken (Beth) of Earleville, Md.; her grandson, Patrick Quinlan of Unionville; and a brother, Robert Fulks of Delaware. She was predeceased by her brother James Fulks from New England.
You are invited to visit with Nancy’s family and friends on Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Kennett Square Golf & Country Club, 100 E. Locust Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348.
Her celebration of life service will follow from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at 12:30 p.m.
Interment will be held privately.
Contributions in her memory may be made to The American Kidney Fund http://www.kidneyfund.org.
Arrangements are being handled by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (1800-FUNERAL).
To view her online obituary, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.
