Stephen S. Danby Sr. of Chadds Ford

Stephen S. Danby, Sr., age 97 years, of Chadds Ford, passed away quietly on Sunday morning, January 6, 2019.

He was born in Gradyville, Delaware County, PA to Arthur William and Martha Alice Westgarth Danby, both having emigrated from England, in 1921 into a family of three sisters and five brothers.

Steve was a WWII combat veteran who served as a gunner’s mate in the United States Navy from September 1942 through December 1945 in all three theaters. This past September he was greatly honored to participate in the Philadelphia Honor Flight veterans trip to Washington, D.C. for a memorable day with his long time close friend Jim White at his side.

Following the War, he was employed by William M. Young Lumber Company in Wilmington, DE through 1978 at which time he co-founded Danby Lumber Company of Kennett Square, PA with his son, Scott.

His lifelong pleasures included horseback riding and foxhunting with West Chester and Brandywine Hunt Clubs. He was active in the Media Little League. He served as a 59year member of the Brandywine Lions Club and for three terms on the then Birmingham Township Board of Supervisors in Delaware County (now renamed Chadds Ford Township). His later and lasting enjoyment was the game of golf in which he continued to play at the Kennett Square Golf & Country Club with his grandsons and many friends on a weekly basis into his 97th year.

He was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters and in 2012 by his wife of 68 years, Effie Casassa Danby.

His survivors are his closest sister, Martha, and her granddaughter, Susan Todd of Oxford, PA. He resided with his son, Scott, and wife, Debora, and was visited regularly by his three grandsons and their wives and seven great-grandchildren who live locally, Franklin Scott and Andrea, Stephen and Hope, and Peter and Xiaoxia Danby. He is also survived by a daughter, Elizabeth, and granddaughter, Kristin Lindsay.

The family held a private graveside service at the Calvary Cemetery in Media, PA on Friday, January 11th.

For those who wish, memorial contributions in memory of Steve may be sent to HonorFlightPhiladelphia.org.

For online condolences, please visit www.Chandlerfuneralhome.com