Oscar Rudolph Allen

Oscar Rudolph Allen passed away peacefully at his home in Oxford on Jan. 20, 2025.

Born on May 30, 1933, in Ash, North Carolina, Oscar was the youngest of six children of Ada and John Allen.  

After graduating from Pfeiffer College, Oscar enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he was stationed in Germany. It was there that he met his wife, Mary. 

Oscar had a profound passion for teaching and faith, which led him to two rewarding careers: one as a professor of English and film at the University of Tennessee and the other as an ordained minister.  He served as pastor at Friendship United Methodist Church, in the village of Gum Tree, Pa. until his retirement at the age of 70. 

Known for his deep love of poetry and his delight in connecting with others, Oscar touched countless lives with his kindness and humor.

Oscar is survived by his loving children, Ruth Anne (Dan) McCauley and John Charles (Pauline) Allen, and his cherished grandchildren, Gillian McCauley, Isaac Allen, and Maxton Allen.  His family and friends will remember him as a beloved father, grandfather, and friend who led a full and inspiring life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who would like to honor Oscar to make a special gift to The Center Philadelphia, whose service to the community through the Arch Street Methodist Church held a special place in Oscar’s heart.  Donations may be made in his memory at https://thecenterphiladelphia.org or through mail to 55 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Oscar’s warmth, generosity, and zest for life will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.

Stanley Barry Smokler

After gracefully living with Frontotemporal Degeneration for over ten years, Stanley Barry Smokler (Stan or Stan the Man to all who loved him) died comfortably and peacefully at noon on Jan. 17, 2025.  He departed in the manner he lived his life—surrounded by family and friends whom he generously bathed with loving warmth, affection, playfulness, humor, laughter, and tenderness. 

Born November 27th, 1944 in New York City, Stan was the son of William and Gertrude Smokler. 

Stan met Madeline Lewis in 1985 and they shared 40 years of love and marriage and proudly created his greatest source of joy—daughter Eleanor (Elly) Smokler. 

Stan was the very kindest of men who loved well and was truly beloved in return.

Stan was an immensely talented artist. He completed his MFA from the Pratt Institute in 1975, and then began a lifelong journey of creating steel assemblage sculpture that was shown nationally and internationally.  He reclaimed and transformed found steel objects to create evocative, engaging works of art. His abstract, expressionist sculpture spans a range of reference from geometric to the organic. Twenty-five years ago, he moved his foundry studio from the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY to Marshall Bridge Road along the Red Clay Creek in Kennett Square. There, Stan continued creating a prolific body of work until 2020. A recent Delaware Art Museum retrospective honored Stan’s significant contribution to art as well as his generous support of other artists through years of his highly acclaimed Marshall Bridge Studio workshops.

He was a mentor and teacher for 20 years between 1997 and 2017 at Delaware College of Art and Design in partnership with Pratt Institute and the Corcoran School of Art and Design. 

The family extends its tremendous gratitude to the attentive and gentle support of the aides of Delaware Accent Hospice and The Summit who helped us fill Stan’s last days with compassion and caring. 

Services will be held privately. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Delaware Art Museum or Delaware Contemporary in his memory.

Arrangements are being handled by Kuzo Funeral Home of Kennett Square.

Daniel Roy Moffett

Daniel Roy Moffett of Newark, Del., passed away suddenly on January 23, 2025. He was 60. 

Dan was the son of the late Claude Raymond Moffett, Sr. and Eileen Wardell Moffett. 

Dan was born on November 13, 1964, and he was raised in Delaware. He studied auto mechanics and graduated from Newark High School. He took classes at Wilmington College and was most recently employed for 12 years as the operations manager for Eichman Law, the business he and his wife, Karen Eichman, started in 2012 in Chester County. Dan handled all the administrative aspects of the business, as well as the household, so that his wife, Karen, could spend her time focused on the legal side of the business. Friends often said, “I need a Dan” because he did absolutely everything for Karen. 

Dan enjoyed fast cars (always Speed Racer!), trucks, and motorcycles. Dan enjoyed playing pool, bowling on a league where he met many life-long friends and once was one strike from a perfect score. He liked fixing vehicles for pleasure, traveling with Karen and their friends and family, and with their dogs when pooches were allowed at the destination. Dan liked “glamping,” especially at Gettysburg Farm Campground, where he and Karen have a seasonal site. 

Dan supported Karen tremendously in networking events and charitable functions, where he became well-known, such as with Rotary and Family Promise of Southern Chester County. To the Rotary Club of Kennett Square, he was “Rotary Dan.” 

Dan loved being right, and between him and his friend Lori, one or the other always had the answer… to anything and everything. One of his favorite sayings, when something would go amiss for someone else was, “I hate when that happens.” 

Most little children adored Dan. He was so good with kids, they gravitated toward him. 

Dan was pre-deceased by his parents, his brother Claude Raymond “Mickey” Moffett, Jr., and his sister, Nancy Moffett Deputy. 

In addition to his wife, Karen Eichman, Dan is survived by his son, Sean, a daughter, Heather West, step-sons, John (Celeste) Babbitt of Williamsburg, Virginia, and SFC Jason (Stefani) Babbitt of Willow Springs, North Carolina. Also surviving are grandsons, Trent Sellers, Conner Babbitt, Alex Babbitt, and granddaughter, Heidi Babbitt, a sister, Sally (Andy) Cohen of Wilmington, Del., and niece, Erika (Lance) Walstrum of Newark, Del.,  several cousins, and many friends. He was also a loving godfather to Colleen and Sarah, for whom he would do anything.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 15 at the Elks Lodge #2281, 42 Elks Trail, New Castle, Del. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon. The service will follow at noon, conducted by Pastor Linda Hanus and repast immediately following. 

Contributions in Dan’s memory can be made to Family Promise of Southern Chester County, 1156 W. Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348 or Humane Animal Partners (Stanton/Christiana), 455 Stanton Christiana Road, Route 7,  Newark, Delaware, 19713. 

Arrangements are being handled by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square. 

To view Dan’s online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

Mercer William Jones

Mercer William Jones, of Kennett Square, passed away peacefully while surrounded by his loving family on Jan. 24, 2025. He was 70.

Born in West Chester, he was the youngest son of the late Earl T. “Pete” Jones, Sr. and Ida Green Jones.

Mercer graduated from Kennett High School in 1972. He was an active member of the choir and band, and he played the trombone. His true passion was sports, excelling in both baseball and basketball. He started playing baseball at age 8 with the KAU Little League. He played three years of varsity baseball at Kennett High School and four years at Spring Garden College.

His talent on the baseball diamond resulted in invitations to try out for major league teams. He went on to play 16 years in the West Chester Adult League and 14 years in the Kennett Men’s Senior League. Mercer also played several years of Sam Tavoni Softball and received the John E. Watson Award at Kennett High School for outstanding baseball player. 

After high school, Mercer pursued higher education, earning a degree in business administration and management from Spring Garden College. He later attended and completed an advanced degree program through The Stoner Graduate School of Banking at University of Delaware. Mercer dedicated over 30 years of his career to banking, working at Meridian Bank, First National Bank of West Chester, and Morgan Stanley. In his later years, he worked for Atlas Refinishing, Thomas Furniture, Wyncote Golf Club, Loch Nairn Country Club, and for nine years at Kuzo Funeral Home, Inc., until his retirement.

A lifelong resident of Kennett Square, Mercer was an active member of Galilee UAME Church, where he served as an officer and sang in the choir. He was also a member of the UAME Conference Choir, the Kennett Community Choir, and the Finance Committee of the UAME Brotherhood.

Mercer was recognized by the House of Representatives for being named an official torchbearer in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He was selected to participate in the Torch Relay as it traveled through Chester County, honored as a Community Hero through a nomination process by the United Way of Chester County and other local chapters. His extensive community involvement included contributions to the United Way, the board of the Exchange Club, Tick-Tock Learning Center, Southern Chester County Medical Center, Kennett Charities, Kennett Chamber of Commerce, Kennett Square Jaycees, Avon Grove Recreation Association, Babe Ruth Baseball League, and the Chester County Community Foundation. 

Throughout his life, Mercer generously gave his time coaching youth sports and serving on numerous organizations and committees. He also coached in the Avon Grove Little League, was a founding member of the Avon Grove Travel Soccer Club, and served as an assistant basketball coach at Avon Grove High School. His dedication to athletics and mentorship positively impacted many young athletes.

In 2013, Mercer was inducted into the Kennett Old-Timers Baseball Hall of Fame. He was recognized for his time in the West Chester Adult Baseball League, where he achieved significant milestones, including membership in the 300-hit club, leading the league in single base hits in 1975 and 1977, and leading in at-bats in 1977. Additionally, he was a 14-year member of the Kennett Men’s Senior Baseball League and was a key member of Kennett’s National Championship team in the 1998 Fall Classic held in Clearwater, Fla.

Mercer cherished time with his family and his lifelong love of Philadelphia sports. He dearly loved his grandchildren. When not coaching or volunteering, he found joy in sharing moments with his loved ones.

Mercer is survived by his son, Matthew Jones, and his wife, Kristen, of Coatesville, Pa.; his daughter, Danielle Jones; grandsons Isaac Jones, Xavier Laboy, Zaire Laboy, and Liam Murray; granddaughter Aislynn Jones; sister-in-law Linda Jones; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, relatives, and friends. 

He was predeceased by his father, Earl T. “Pete” Jones, Sr., his mother, Ida Green Jones, and a brother, Earl T. “Rusty” Jones, Jr.

Family and friends are invited to visit with Mercer’s family on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Christ Church at the Grove at 1772 New London Road in Landenberg. A service to celebrate his life will follow at 11 a.m.

Interment will be private at a later date.

Should friends desire, contributions in Mercer’s memory may be made to The Mercer Jones - RBI Legacy Scholarship. This scholarship honors Mercer Jones’ legacy by empowering student-athletes to achieve success in both sports and academics, while also fostering future leaders in the financial industry. The goal is to help these students transition from the playing field to the professional world, whether in finance, banking, or business leadership. To donate, please use the following link: https://giveahand.com/fundraiser/mercer-jones-rbi-fund. Questions regarding the scholarship may be directed to [email protected]. 

Online condolences may be shared by visiting https://www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Arrangements are being handled by Kuzo Funeral Home of Kennett Square. 

Sharon Lynn Jones

Sharon Lynn Jones, of Oxford, passed away on Jan. 29, 2025 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. She was 70.

She was the wife of Carl R. Jones, with whom she shared 44 years of marriage.

Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late Ervin E. and Mary L. Marlin Styer.

Sharon graduated from Goldey-Beacom College with a degree in accounting. 

She was employed as a business manager with the Chester County Intermediate Unit and was formerly employed with the A & P in Oxford.

Sharon enjoyed bowling, bingo and visiting Las Vegas.

She is survived by her husband, step-daughter, Jennifer Jones Dunham, and two step- grandchildren, Connor Dunham and Alexandria Dunham.

She is preceded in death by her sister, Sandra L. Styer.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the Union Presbyterian Church at 5637 Street Road in Kirkwood, Pa. Friends and family may visit from noon to 1 p.m.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at https://www.komen.org.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.