Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: Winter 2004 Volume 41 Number 1, Page 37

In Memoriam

Page 37

ANNE SKERRETT KIRKPATRICK

Anne Kirkpatrick, a member of the History Club since 1996, died of heart failure on October 16, 2003 at Bryn Mawr Hospital at the age of 82 years. She was the widow of the late Miles W. Kirkpatrick, who died in 1998.

A graduate of Agnes Irwin School, she enlisted in the Navy WAVES during World War II, was a recruiter traveling in the northeast to encourage women to enlist, and hosted a radio show sponsored by the Navy.

After her discharge in 1945, she married, and while raising three children in Strafford was a Cub Scout den mother and active with the Girl Scouts. She volunteered and held leadership positions in numerous organizations, including the Needlework Guild of America, where she served as national president from 1991 to 1993. She also helped conserve the Old Eagle School in Strafford and was a trustee beginning in 1974. An avid historian, she wrote Strafford: No Stranger to History, an account of the town since colonial days. An excerpt from this history was published in the History Club Quarterly in 1997.

She is survived by her children, William, Nancy (Urban), and Mary (Gillett), and eight grandchildren. We will miss her.

THOMAS PUGH

The History Club lost a good friend and former member, Thomas Pugh, who died of cancer on October 27, 2003 at Abington Memorial Hospital at the age of 80. He was the widower of the late Martha Rowland Pugh, who died in 1997.

A native of Scranton, Tom moved to Philadelphia when he was 18, found work at Fidelity Bank (now Wachovia), and was soon inducted into the Army. He served in Europe and earned a Bronze Star for his actions in the Northern France Campaign. He was discharged as a staff sergeant, returned to work at the bank, and married Martha in 1947. He was called back into the army during the Korean War.

We knew Tom after his retirement as a tax officer at Fidelity in 1984. He and Martha, who grew up in Easttown and attended local schools, joined the History Club. They traveled from Willow Grove to club meetings every month. Martha was interested in seeing her high school classmates. Tom may have been more interested in visiting Waterloo Gardens, for he built a greenhouse and cultivated bonsai plants and orchids. We will always remember his affable and friendly manner. He is survived by a daughter, Marion, and a son, Douglas.

CLYDE S. MENTZER

Clyde Mentzer, a former member of the History Club, passed away on November 7, 2003 at Ephrata Hospital just over one month short of his 91st birthday. He was a native of

Page 38

Ephrata and a recent resident of the Ephrata Manor Nursing Home. He had first married the late Elizabeth Keller, who died in 1963. He had also been married to Mary Brennamen and Virginia Beidler Snyder, who have preceded him in death.

Clyde graduated from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania in 1936, from which he later received the prestigious "Hotdag Frank" award for outstanding service to the college. After graduation, he moved to the Upper Darby area, where he worked for the U. S. Post Office for 36 years and later at TV Guide for 10 years.

He was very active in church activities, most recently at Paoli Presbyterian Church, and sang in church choirs most of his adult life. We knew him when he attended club meetings with his wife, Virginia, who served as President of the History Club from 1990 to 1991. Clyde was always ready to talk about the fortunes of the Philadelphia sports teams, which were a great interest of his. He is survived by a son Richard and two grandchildren. We all remember Clyde fondly.