Kathryn T. Bishop
Katherine (Kathy) Theresa Bishop, born on September 13, 1953 in Chester, Pa., sadly passed away on May 27, 2024 at her home in Lincoln University, Pa.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony Aiello and Kathryn Albertson and a sibling, Marie Aiello.
She is survived by her loving husband, John Bishop, her son, Michael Callahan, niece, Cynthia Vernon and grandchildren, Lina, Dylan and Kylee. Kathy was the heart and soul of this family and will be dearly missed.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com) in Oxford.
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy, known to friends as Murph, died suddenly on May 31, 2024 while enjoying a walk in the woods near his farm in Coatesville.
He is survived by his beloved wife and partner, Colleen Mooney, daughter, Cait Murphy, son, Jack Murphy, brother, Andrew Murphy, MD (Karen Murphy) and nephews Ian, Aaron and Jared. He will also be dearly missed by Colleen’s children.
He was born on February 20, 1959 to Thomas P. and Josephine (nee Smith) Murphy in Darby, Pa. Paul graduated from Cardinal O’Hara High School in 1977 and graduated from Villanova University School of Business in 1981 with a degree in Aacountancy.
After graduation, Paul worked briefly as an accountant at Alco before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1984. He served his country as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force and as a fighter pilot for the Pennsylvania National Guard based at Willow Grove Air Force Base. “Cheeks” as he was known, logged over 1,000 hours of flight time across the United States and Central America before being honorably discharged after nearly a decade of service.
With over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, he was a seasoned leader, strategist, and innovator in the asset management and wealth advisory spaces. He was chief marketing officer of Econometrics Capital. Prior to joining EC, he was the senior vice president and wealth management officer of Ephrata National Bank where he was responsible for trust company acquisitions and initiated an innovative 401k partnership. Before joining Ephrata, he was the founder and principal of Percheron Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm that provided hands-on advice and guidance to a broad range of firms in the financial sector. He served as managing director of Spire Investment Partners, where he was instrumental in growing its assets under management. He began his career at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley.
With the five children grown, he and Colleen had been rehabbing their farm in Cheshire Hunt Country and working to be good stewards of the Brandywine River which runs through the property.He enjoyed his horses and dogs and who loved being part of the community. He was a frequent volunteer at Cheshire Hunt events and served on the Board of Plantation Field Equestrian Events. He loved his fly fishing trips to the Wind River Valley, Wyoming, and his time spent in Jost Van Dyke in the BVI.
A service to celebrate his life was held on June 8 with an Irish Wake at Fox Moon Farm in the field he loved to mow on his tractor.
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.
Gildo David Guizzetti, Sr.
Gildo David Guizzetti, Sr., age 92, a husband, father, Pop-Pop and friend, and proud mushroom farmer in Landenberg, entered his eternal reward on June 2, 2024.
Gildo, who was known to many as “Truck Three” and “Mr. G,” spent his entire life, except for the last five months, living at his home and farm along Penn Green Road in New Garden Township.
His ability to make friends and solve problems was legendary, as illustrated by his many accomplishments and recognitions.
He was particularly proud of serving as class president throughout high school at Kennett. He received so many nominations in senior year that an election was not even needed.
During high school, he participated in World War II civil defense activities.
In 1954, Gildo was among the founding members of Saint Pius X Council 3858 K of C at Assumption BVM Parish in West Grove.
He was a founding member, in 1988, of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Parish in Avondale. In 1989, Gildo was inducted into the Kennett Old Timers Baseball Association Hall of Fame.
Gildo served on the board of directors of Mushroom Cooperative Canning for many years.
In 2002, Gildo received a Mushroom Industry Conference Award of Merit for over 40 years of inspiration and support of the mushroom industry, and mushroom programs at Penn State.
In 2007, Gildo was recognized for dedication and commitment as honorary co-chairman to the Avondale Fire Company’s capital campaign.
In 2008, and 2017, he was named Volunteer of the Year in New Garden Township, in appreciation and recognition for dedicated service to the Sewer Authority.
Gildo Guizzetti and his mother, Louise Guizzetti, began L. Guizzetti and Son, which grew into the current Guizzetti Farms, Inc.
Gildo enjoyed playing baseball, and he played first base with skill.
His favorite topics of conversation included mushroom growing, Phillies baseball, and Penn State football. Penn State ice cream was among his favorite treats.
Gildo was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Sylvia; and his sister, Olympia (“Sissi”) Manfredini.
He is survived by four children, Victor (Sue) Guizzetti, Michael (Faith) Guizzetti, Linda (Jim) DiLuzio, and Gildo (Michele) Guizzetti, and 13 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.
His funeral mass was held on June 7 at Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church in Avondale.
Burial took place at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett Square.
The family thanks you for your kindness in considering donations in Gildo Guizzetti’s memory to Meals on Wheels Chester County, 404 Willowbrook Lane, West Chester, PA 19382and/or the Avondale Ambulance Association, 23 Firehouse Way, Avondale, PA 19311.
To view his online tribute and to share a memory with Gildo’s family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home of Kennett Square.
Robert Peter Kane
Bob Kane, of West Grove, passed comfortably into eternal rest on June 2, 2024 while he was surrounded by his family. He was 73.
Born in Rapid City, South Dakota to John and Agnes (Pfeiffer) Kane, he spent his childhood in Whitesboro, NY where he excelled in school and sports. His strong work ethic started early as a paperboy. Bob attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Utica, NY and graduated from Whitesboro High School in 1968.
Upon graduation, Bob followed his brother Bill’s footsteps and entered the U.S. Marine Corps where he proudly served for four years. His service brought him to the front lines of Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. He was a rifleman and sharpshooter and earned the rank of sergeant. He then served as a game warden at Camp Pendleton in California, where he once assisted President Nixon with “what’s biting” in the fishing pond. Though he rarely spoke of the experiences of war, it was evident throughout his life that he was “once a Marine, always a Marine,” and a proud one at that.
He continued his education at Herkimer County Community College and finished it at Clarkson University, where he earned his BS, MS and eventually PhD in chemical engineering. Bob excelled in everything and it was no different once he joined the workforce. He worked in research & development and later process excellence/Six Sigma for Allied Signal (later Honeywell) for 21 years until retiring and moving on to Johnson & Johnson. He became a Master Black Belt in Six Sigma and started his own consulting business to train others in pharmaceuticals on the processes to improve productivity.
While on leave from the Marines, Bob met Sue, the love of his life. It was love at first sight and her letters helped him through the rest of his time away. They were married on June 9, 1973. It was a loving union that lasted almost 51 years. They built a life together and welcomed two daughters along the way. Amanda and Elizabeth were Bob’s pride and joy and he did everything that he could to make sure that they had the best childhood they could have. He would coach their sports teams, go on father-daughter camping trips, create holiday traditions, organize fundraisers and be the master of the grill. His love of puzzles and games was something that he shared with his family and an activity they cherished doing together. His girls were his life and that didn’t end when they got older. Family vacations to the Outer Banks became normal until it turned into visits to more tropical locations. He was always a phone call away for help around the house, to give financial advice, discuss a problem or keep them company during a car ride.
Throughout their life, Amanda and Elizabeth looked at their parents’ love as the epitome of what a marriage should be. Bob would look at Sue with a twinkle in his eye and up until the end she was still the one that would make him open his eyes and smile.
Bob was always a proud Marine and joined the American Legion and Marine Corps League to stay involved. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was active with the Ovations HOA, serving as the chair of the Finance Committee for several years.
Guillain Barre robbed Bob of the last years of his life—he was diagnosed in October of 2022 and he was paralyzed from the neck down. It took 11 months and determination and advocacy to get Bob off the ventilator so that his family could bring him home. He was home with his wife for seven months before being called to his heavenly home. He is now no longer in pain, running free and having a beer with his fellow Marines.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife Susan (Dorozynski) and their two daughters, Amanda (Glenn Walston) Baxter of York, Pa. And Elizabeth (Benjamin) McGarry of Dover, Pa. Also surviving are his sisters, Mary Kane and Kathy Kane of Whitesboro, NY, Suzanne (Henry) Ng of Fairfield, Calif., Aggie (Bill) Barry of New York Mills, NY, a brother, John Kane of Calif., sisters-in-law Mary Currie of Marcy, NY, Janet (Don) Wroblicki and Juliann (Surender Panchel) Dorozynski-Essafi of Yorkville, NY and brothers-in-law Thomas (Patricia) Dorozynski of Pine Plains, NY and John (Wendy Balcom) Dorozynski of Leesburg, VA. In addition, he is survived by countless nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, brother and sister-in-law William and Joan (Zwijacz) Kane, his parents-in-law Julian and Madeline (Cirasuolo) Dorozynski, brothers-in-law Stephen Currie and Melvin Bearden, nephew Michael Dorozynski and nephew-in-law Steven Smith.
The family will welcome visitors at Sacred Heart Church at 203 Church Road in Oxford on Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m. Mass will follow. Interment will be private at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to be made to the GBS Foundation (https://tinyurl.com/5n6kbbh3). Please research Guillain Barre and spread the word so no other family needs to experience this loss.
Virginia Christ Melrath
Virginia Christ Melrath was an energetic, caring mother, Yia Yia (grandmother), wife, sister, aunt and friend. She left this world on June 5, 2024 at age 100.
She was the wife of the late Ross H. Melrath with whom she shared a life-long marriage, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Socrates Christ.
Virginia grew up in Oxford, working and playing in her parent’s sandwich shop and candy kitchen along with her brother, Charlie Christ and sister, Irene DeWitt who both preceded her in death. She graduated from Oxford Area High School with the class of 1942.
While her primary focus in life was her family and raising her children, she also loved flowers and gardening, and worked for many years at LK Phillips Florist designing bouquets. She was a longtime member of the Green Thumb Garden Club as well. Virginia enjoyed a good card game and took part in three local bridge clubs. She also loved dancing to the big band music of the 1940s. When her husband Ross (her favorite jitterbug partner) passed, she went on to dance with the Golden Slippers Dance Club of Oxford. Her free time was spent playing bridge, saving little animals, gardening, exercising at the YMCA, and spending time with her children and grandson Nick, who she cherished the most.
Virginia’s smile could light up a room, and everyone who met her loved her. Her memory will be eternal, because as long as we remember someone, they will always be with us. Virginia is survived by her two sons, Joseph and Gary Melrath and her daughter, Susan Melrath as well as her one and only grandson, Nicholas Landgren.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. at 86 Pine St. in Oxford, where friends and family may visit from
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
After the service, a celebration of her life will be held at Wyncote Golf Club at 50 Wyncote Dr. in Oxford.
The family offers its heartfelt thanks go to her care team who brought comfort and love to Virginia in the final days, including Jodi Clifton, Elaine Tice Keen, Lynn Combs, and Kate Hartsoe, and Jenel King. A special thanks to the caring staff of Brandywine Hospice, including Jenn, Lisa, Tiffany, Joanna, Michelle, Kathy, Justine, Mike, Brianna and Haley. Thank you all for allowing yourselves to love her even while knowing she would be gone one day.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.
DIANNA LOUISE JOHNSON
Dianna (Diane) Louise Johnson passed away unexpectedly on May 29, 2024 after a lengthy battle with several illnesses. She was 75.
Dianna was born to Branson and Nora Doss on April 16, 1949, and she was raised in Chatham for most of her early years. She attended Avon Grove schools and had a passion for being a nurse.
She worked hard on getting her certified nursing assistant degree (CNA) and made that her career. She worked with home health care and also in a few nursing facilities. She loved working at Chatham Acres, now known as Twin Pines, where her mother, Nora Doss had worked most of her life. She attended a few churches through the years and had become a member of the Church of God in Oxford.
She married Everett Ray Johnson (Butch), on July 25, 1965. He was the love of her life and together they raised three children, Gail (Tim) Nugent, Sherry (Matt) Wilson, and Jolene Dianna Johnson. The were blessed with nine grandchildren, Nathan (Tiffany) Nugent, Justin (Kim) Nugent, Chad (Christine) Wilson, Branson (Hanna) Wilson, Amber Wilson, Dianna Johnson, Abigail Johnson, Curtis Johnson, and Grace Johnson and 11 great-grandchildren. She also had her dog and companion, “Peanutter,” who was always by her side.
She enjoyed country music, southern gospel, a good ole southern meal with eclairs for dessert, Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton, and vacations to Branson, MO and Pigeon Forge and visits to her relatives in Nashville and Glade Springs, VA with her family.
She was predeceased by her parents, Branson and Nora Doss, her daughter, Sherry Wilson, two sisters, Irene Gilbert, and Shirley Ward, and her brother, Kermit Doss.
Her loving memory will live on through surviving children, grandchildren along with her siblings, Virginia Thomas, Irma Munday, Earl (Ella) Doss, Phyllis (Donald) Porter, and Conley (Barb) Doss and many nieces, nephews, cousins and her friends. The family’s hearts are broken, but they will see her light shine forever. Services will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.
Today, Top StoriesObituaries06-12-24
