May 14, 2022 - ChaddsFordLive.com

George L. Anderson, 86, of West Grove

George L. Anderson, 86, of West Grove, died Tuesday, May 10, after a sudden three-week decline. George was the husband of Barbara Massey Anderson, who died in 2007, a few months after celebrating their 50th anniversary.

George was born in West Chester, the son of the late Lawrence Anderson and Frances Anderson Crossan. At age 6 he joined his older twin brothers at Girard College, a boarding school in Philadelphia for fatherless boys, and received his early education graduating in 1953. He then attended Goldey Beacom College and received a degree in business. In 1956, George went to work as an accountant at the DuPont Company in downtown Wilmington and retired after 36 years. He then worked locally for the US Post Office for a while followed by several years of driving a school van for the DuVall Bus Company. George fully retired when he was in his mid-70s.

Dad loved to travel with mom and play pinochle and dominoes. He read the newspaper daily, every word, from front to back. Dad was always up for a quick (sometimes not so quick) trip to a casino, with Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut being his favorite. The Phillies and Eagles have lost an avid fan.

George always lived in and loved the town of West Grove. He was a borough councilman for 12 years in the 70s and 80s. The family attended the West Grove Methodist Church where George served on various committees, but his true dedication and commitment were to the West Grove Volunteer Fire Co. He joined the fire company at age 17. He was an active firefighter and answered hundreds of ambulance calls with his wife Barbara. George served as president in 1974, 1975, 1985, vice president in 1981, and was the secretary from 1969 to 1973. He was the department treasurer for a total of 20 years in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Dad’s last service until just a few years ago was a daily visit to the station to drop off and sort the mail. He enjoyed every day of his fire company life.

George is survived by son Donald Anderson and Fred Phillips of Paradise, daughter Donna Shaub and husband Tim of West Grove, and daughter Sharon Camp and husband Trent of Hockessin. Pop Pop was very proud of and enjoyed time spent with grandchildren Jessica Shaub Jones, Rebecca, and Phil Miranda, Lauren and Bryce Gates, Anderson and Annabelle Camp, and great-grandchildren who made him very happy, Owen Massey Jones, Sloane Miranda, and newborn Paige Miranda who he did not get to meet in person but saw her in lots of pictures. Great-grandson Baby Boy Gates is due to arrive in July.

George’s twin sister Judy Peters (the late Jerry) lives in St Augustine FL, brother Robert and wife Carol The Woodlands TX, and sister-in-law Ruth Anderson Kennett Square Pa. He was Uncle George to three generations of nieces and nephews.

In addition to Barbara and his parents, George was predeceased by father and mother-in-law Sumner and Dorothy Massey, brother John on May 10, 2021, great-grandson Finn Miranda, and his “other son” Peter Grossweiler.

We love you Dad. You will be missed by your family, your fire company family, your many friends, and the community.

A memorial service for George Anderson will be held at Foulk Funeral Home at 200 Rosehill Road in West Grove on Tuesday, May 17 at 7 p.m. A time of visitation with the family will begin at 5 p.m.

Memorial donations can be made to West Grove Fire Company at P.O. Box 201, West Grove PA, 19390.

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

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Thomas W. Nields of Wilmington

Obituaries

Thomas W. Nields, 65, of Wilmington, died Tuesday, May 10, at his residence.

Born in West Chester, he was the son of the late Walter Nields and the late Elizabeth Vogel Nields.

He was a retired dump truck driver last working for Technivate in Avondale.

Thomas enjoyed landscaping, driving his dump truck, riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and being with his family and friends.

He is survived by one daughter, Mallory J. Nields of Oxford; one brother, Edward O. Nields of Downingtown; one sister, Susan R. Hoopes pf Lancaster, S.C.; three grandchildren, and four nieces and two nephews.

He was predeceased by one sister, Joyce A. Kent.

His service will be held at a later date.

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

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

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Historical marker unveiled

Along the Ford

_1JF0384-unveiling — History lovers unveil the new sign at the Barns-Brinton House.

History lovers dedicated a new historical marker at the Barns-Brinton house in Pennsbury Township on Thursday afternoon. The building is owned and maintained by the Chadds Ford Historical Society.

CFHS President Randell Spackman said the interpretive signage is key to “getting history right.” He added that getting it right takes time.

Spackman also gave a brief history lesson on the battle, saying Knyphausen’s Feint at Chadds Ford set up the ultimate British victory in the Sept. 11, 1777 battle. It was the largest land battle of the War of Independence, involving 30,000 men in arms and taking place over 3,500 acres in 15 municipalities.

He went on to say the feint distracted Gen. George Washington’s forces to the point that they didn’t know the main British body was circling to the north and would attack in force from Birmingham Township in Chester County.

“This is our true history and that of our nation,” Spackman said. “It maintains a sense of place and gives people a sense of self-worth.”

Chester County Planning Commission Executive Director Brian O’Leary said the sign was the seventh erected so far. There would be another eight put up in the other municipalities where there had been fighting or troop movement.

Aaron McIntyre, supervisors’ chairman in Pennsbury Township, was also on hand for the brief ceremony.

The Barclay Rubicam painting depicts Hessian troops along the old Route 1, Baltimore Pike, during the start of the Battle of Brandywine. That was before the paved Route 1 was constructed to the rear of the house.

“Pennsbury Township has a strong commitment to history,” McIntyre said. “It grounds us, and we have a strong interest in preserving it.”

The sign was funded by the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution and its Color Guard. Peter Adams was the spokesman for that group.

“Our Society agreed to fund this project to educate the public about the Battle of the Brandywine,” Adams said. “By funding the cost of 15 historically accurate signs detailing events of the battle and distributing the signs in 15 municipalities sharing the battlefield’s footprint in Delaware and Chester counties, we believe our mission is well served.”

Adams thanked several people for their efforts and added, “This exciting and worthwhile endeavor is an excellent example of a successful public-private partnership. Nowhere have I found another example where two counties and their 15 municipalities have joined together in patriotic harmony united in such a successful partnership.”

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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