December 28, 2020

Arthur “Ottie” A. Cox, 77, of West Grove, died Thursday, Dec. 23, at his residence. He was the husband of Judy Wayne Cox, with whom he shared 54 years of marriage.

Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late Orville Cox and the late Alice Hipkins Cox.

He was a locksmith, working at the University of Delaware, retiring in 1991 after 30 years of service.

Mr. Cox was an Eagles and Phillies fan and enjoyed watching NASCAR. In earlier years he played baseball and racquetball. He loved being with his family, and their trips to the mountains. He also enjoyed, along with his son, entering their tractor in the John Deere tractor pull competition.

He was a member of the Hockessin VFW and the Rough & Tumble Waterloo Boys.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Dawn Cox of West Grove; one son, Kevin West and his wife Rose of Casa Grande, Ariz.; one sister, Joan Gresham of Vero Beach, Fla., and one grandson, Steven West.

He was predeceased by one brother, Bill Cox, and one sister, Grace McLimans.

His services and burial will be private.

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

Arrangements by the Foulk Funeral of West Grove, West Grove.

Sylvia Leto Fawcett, 95, of Kennett Square, died Tuesday, December 22, at the Jennersville Hospital in West Grove. Sylvia was a daughter to Jennie and Oreste Leto of Kennett Square. She was one of ten Leto children. Sylvia is predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Theodore (“Ted”) Fawcett, her sisters Rosalie Leto, Mary Leto, Hilda Leto Smith, and her brothers Joseph Leto, Charles Leto, Oreste Leto Jr, and Frederick Leto. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Fawcett, her grandchildren, Brian and Matthew Kirkland; her only great-grandchild, James Theodore Kirkland whom unfortunately she only got to know virtually; her brothers Victor Leto and Robert Leto; and 15 nieces and nephews who knew her fondly as “Aunt Syl.”

Sylvia was born and raised at the family homestead in Kennett Square and spent her first year of education in the Kennett Consolidated School district’s one-room schoolhouse. She grew up on a farm, the daughter of an immigrant mushroom grower – helping her brothers feed the chickens, milk the cows, and pack mushrooms bound for produce markets in Philadelphia and New York City. She had fond memories of the times Grandmom and Grandpop Leto took a break from farm life to spend a summer day with her siblings and cousins at Crystal Beach, MD. Sylvia graduated from Kennett High School, Class of 1943, and went on to complete her RN nursing degree from The Memorial Hospital of Wilmington, DE where she earned the title “Supervisor of the Accident Ward”.

Sylvia met her future husband as a young child. Ted was born and raised in New York City and spent time with his Aunt in Kennett Square as a young boy, becoming a close family friend of the Leto clan. Sylvia married Ted, the love of her life, on June 17, 1950, at St. Patrick’s Church in Kennett Square. Their wedding reception was held outdoors at the farmhouse (“down-home”) where she grew up. They began married life together in Indiana, where Ted worked as a mechanical engineer, but they moved back to Pennsylvania to be close to family before their only child was born. They lived in Springfield, PA from the 1960s until moving to the Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community in 2002.

Sylvia was an accomplished golfer, bridge player, and bowler who enjoyed playing piano, dancing, traveling, solving crossword puzzles and cryptograms, cross-stitch, and sewing Halloween costumes for her daughter. She and Ted were members of the Overbrook Golf Club in Bryn Mawr, PA where they enjoyed socializing with close friends for many years. Sylvia cherished spending weekends and holidays with her family in Kennett Square, her in-laws in New York City, and their lifelong friends (Barbara’s godparents) in Walpole, MA. Sylvia and Ted traveled to Europe many times – visiting family in Italy, playing golf in Spain, touring the sights in England, France and Switzerland.

Sylvia had a knack for writing poems to commemorate momentous occasions for family and friends’ milestone birthdays and anniversaries. She was a wonderfully kind, caring, and generous “Mom-Mom” to her two grandsons. When asked for three traits to describe herself, she responded “Creative”, “Loyal” and “Family Oriented.” Sylvia was cherished deeply by her late husband, daughter, and grandchildren, her siblings, nieces, and nephews, and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

You are invited to visit with Sylvia’s family from 11 to 11:30 a.m. (COVID PRECAUTIONS APPLY) Wednesday, Dec. 30 2020 at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 401 N. Union St. Kennett Square, PA 19348. A private funeral service will follow with entombment in Cathedral Cemetery in Wilmington DE. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Jenner’s Pond Benevolent Fund at https://www.jennerspond.org/about-us/giving/gift-in-memory/ or 2000 Greenbriar Lane, West Grove, PA 19390. Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com

Mr. Thomas E. Kriebel, 90, of West Grove, died Friday, Dec. 25, at Twin Pines Health Care Center, West Grove.  He is survived by his wife, Stella (Howarth) Kriebel of West Grove. Born on Jan. 8, 1930, in Reading, he is the son of the late Robert Wright and Mary Louise (Trostal) Kriebel.

Mr. Kriebel was a graduate of Media High School in the class of 1948. Following high school, he served as a merchant marine for seven years.  He then began his career working in the instrument department as a mechanical engineer for Sun Oil in Marcus Hook and later transitioned to being an electrical engineer working in the instrument department at the DuPont Experimental Station. In his free time and in retirement, he was a farmer, could fix almost anything you could think of, and enjoyed hunting and the outdoors.

Mr. Kriebel is survived by his children, Debbie Wheatley (Dave), Barbara Lebidine, Robert Kriebel (Cheryl), and Mary Steal; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his son Thomas Kriebel.

All services will be private.  Arrangements by the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove.

Dawn Marie Harris, 54, of Landenberg, died Sunday, Dec. 20, at her home. She bravely endured a 3-1/2 year illness, displaying a positive outlook throughout the entire span. She was the loving wife of Richard W. Harris III, with whom she shared a beautiful marriage of 29 years. She was the daughter of the late James Roy Badger and the late Theresa Ann (Ioannoni) Weldin.

Dawn was a graduate of Avon Grove High School in the class of 1984.  She continued her schooling at the Philadelphia Art Institute. She displayed her artistic talents teaching children’s art classes, creating beautiful jewelry, painting outdoor sceneries, and decorating her loving home.  

 

She was a devout member of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Catholic Church in Avondale.  Most of all, she was a peaceful, selfless person who loved Our Lord, looked out for people, and deeply loved her family.

In addition to her husband Richard, Dawn is also survived by her children, Richard W. Harris IV, and Mackenzi T. Harris; her brother James Michael Badger and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her sister Wendy Ann Shaw.

 Friends will be received on Monday, Dec. 28, from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother, 8910 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale, PA 19311 where a Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Tuesday, Dece. 29, at 10 a.m.  The entombment will follow at Cathedral Cemetery, Wilmington, DE.  Contributions may be made in Dawn’s name to The National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation https://nlmsf.org/donate/

Dolores Rose Santiago, 84, of West Grove, died Tuesday, Dec. 22, in Jennersville. Born on March 11, 1936, in Cochranville, she was the daughter of the late Clarence S. Bailey and Olga P. Bailey. Dolores married the late Richard Santiago on November 17th, 1956. They were happily married for 38 years and raised six beautiful children.

Dolores was a loving wife, sister, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a wonderful homemaker and cared for all of those around her – family and friends included. Dolores enjoyed spending time with her animals, listening to country music, Elvis Presley, and having picnics while enjoying the outdoors. She spent Sundays in church entrusting her faith in the Lord. Dolores adored collecting angel figurines, penguins, and glassware from all over the world.

Dolores is survived by her children Richard Santiago (Karen), Donna Oliver, Carmen Stoltzfus (Roy), Julius Santiago (Florence), and Linda Pierce (Paul); eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.  She is preceded in death by her daughter, Robin Thompson, her grandson Jamie Thomas, three of her brothers, and two of her sisters.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, Dec. 30, from 10-10:45 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church located at 203 Church Rd., Oxford, PA 19363. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11. Interment will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Kennett Square. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to The Lighthouse Youth Center – Oxford, or Perish Giving at Sacred Heart Church.

William (Bill) R. Landmesser Jr., 89, of Kennett Square, died Wednesday, Dec. 16,  at Wilmington Hospital under the care of Season’s Hospice. He was the devoted husband for over 43 years of the late Virginia (Smith) Landmesser. Born in East Orange, N.J. on Oct. 10, 1931, he was the son of the late William R. Sr. and Louisa (Hochuli) Landmesser.

Bill graduated from Summit High School in Summit, N.J., and continued his education at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in industrial and labor relations. Before entering the workforce, he served as a first lieutenant in the Army infantry stationed at Fort Benning, Ga.  While he was in the reserves, he began his career as an employee relations manager, first working for Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation in Pittsburgh, and in Albany, N.Y.  He later worked for TIMET in Ohio and ended his career with ICI Americas Inc. in Wilmington, retiring in 1987.

When he wasn’t working, Bill was active in the Kennett Square Community.  He was a long-time active member of the Kennett Square Presbyterian Church and the Lions Club. He served as a board member for the library, Senior Center, the Kennett Run Committee, was a Kennett Elementary classroom mentor, was a small business counselor with SCORE and volunteered time at the DuPont Children’s Hospital. In his free time, he continued to take classes at the University of Delaware’s lifelong learning academy, enjoyed his summers in the Adirondack Mountains, visiting Longwood Gardens, reading, oil painting, and spending time with his family.

Bill is survived by his children, Timothy Landmesser (Margaret), Peter Landmesser (Patricia), and Susan Augustine (Stephen); his grandchildren, Beau, Scott, Travis, Calla, Kinsey, and Andrew, and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Bloomer, nephew David, and niece Lynda.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Kennett Square Presbyterian Church, 211 S Broad St, Kennett Square, PA 19348.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those wishing to attend are asked to sign up by going to https://pcks.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/667370 Services can also be viewed by going to the church’s YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/-U-m-1FK1NM In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill’s honor to the Kennett Library, 216 E. State St., Kennett Square, PA 19348. Arrangements by the Kuzo Funeral Home, Kennett Square.