August 24, 2006 Issue                                       

©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Obituaries

Benjamin Holmes

Benjamin G. Holmes, 54, formerly of Chestnut Hill, died May 27 in Williamsport, Pa.

Mr. Holmes, the son of the Rev. W. Benjamin Holmes and Jane Sheeran Holmes, was born in New York City. His father was rector of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Chestnut Hill from 1967 to 1973.

A 1970 graduate of LaSalle College High School, Mr. Holmes also graduated from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, obtaining both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work.

He was a social worker and child therapist for more than 30 years, first in Philadelphia and then in New England, where he moved in the early 1980s.

Mr. Holmes lived in Rindge, N.H., until early March when he moved to Williamsport. He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Selinsgrove, Pa.

He is survived by his sister, Rebecca (Harry) Southwell, and a niece, Molly Southwell, who live in West Mt. Airy, and a brother, Philip A. Holmes of Williamsport.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on August 26 at All Saints Episcopal Church, Market and Snyder Streets, Selinsgrove, Pa.

Memorial contributions may be made to Susquehanna Home Care and Hospice, 1100 Grampian Blvd., Williamsport, PA 17701.

Francis E. Duff Jr.

Francis E. Duff Jr., 48, of Wyndmoor, died on August 20.

Mr. Duff is survived by a daughter, Laura Elizabeth Duff, of Lansdale; his parents, Frank E. and Suzanne R. Duff, of Wyndmoor; two brothers, Charles (Suzanne) Duff and Matthew (Patti) Duff, and a sister, Susan Rounds (Mel).

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on August 25 at Seven Dolors Church, 1200 E. Willow Grove Avenue in Wyndmoor.

Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Keystone House, 8765 Stenton Ave., Wyndmoor, PA 19038.

Elizabeth Why Ransom

Elizabeth Why Ransom, 88, of Fort Washington, died August 19 at Fort Washington Estates in her hometown.

She was the wife of the late James Louis Kirkland and the late Wallace Ransom.

Mrs. Ransom was born in Philadelphia to Harold Thorpe Why and Gertrude Roth Why. She was a homemaker.

She is survived by a son, Richard G. Kirkland of Charlotte, N.C.; two daughters, Leslie K. Coker of Annapolis, Md., and Barbara Jill Denoff of West Palm Beach, Fla.; a sister, Marguerite Kimes of Chestnut Hill; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. on September 2 at Christ Ascension Lutheran Church, 8300 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill.

Internment will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Bradford Cemetery in West Chester.

Memorial contributions may be made to Caring Hospice 400 Commerce Drive; Suite C; Ft. Washington, PA 19034.

Shirley Krecker

Shirley B. Krecker, 81, of Gwynedd Valley, died at home on August 10.

Mrs. Krecker was a long-time resident of Lower Gwynedd, a respected and well known realtor in the area, working in residential real estate for more than 30 years.

She was born in Atlantic City, the daughter of Gertrude and William Burns. She graduated from Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia and Pine Manor College in Boston.

Mrs. Krecker is survived by her husband, Richard H. Krecker; two daughters: Laura Stulb (Edwin H. IV), of Gwynedd Valley and Kathryn Krecker (Curtiss Clark) of Middlebury, Conn.; a son, W. Hilliard B. Krecker (Grace Mulford) of Aiken, S.C.; and several grandchildren.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of Philadelphia, Monroe Office Center, 1 Winding Drive, Phila., PA 19131 or to the Religious of the Assumption, 504 Crestview Rd., Lansdale, PA 19446.