Stephen S. Danby, Sr.

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 59-year 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.

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

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Funeral Services

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

Condolences

Francis Naumann lit a candle and writes,

So sorry for your loss

01/15/2019 06:13 pm

Cindy Calvarese writes,

Scott, Beth and family, so sorry for your loss!!!! Mr Danby and Mrs Danby are finally back together!!! They were the best!!!!!

01/16/2019 04:55 am

alfred l lewis writes,

SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF STEVE. HE WAS A NICE MAN. AL AND SANDY LEWIS

01/16/2019 08:18 am

Allison Madonna writes,

I knew the entire Danby clan since the early 90s. And I eventually worked for the lumber company from 1994 through 2009. While at that time he no longer needed to come to the office, he was in that office more than any other Danby. And he was out in that lumberyard upstaging and outworking men that were a third of his age. Lol! Mr Danby was the most upstanding, caring, honest and hard-working man to work for. When you worked for him, he took you under his wing and into his fold as part of his extended family. He was the heart of the company, and why people loved coming to work every day. It is true what they say ... He was the embodiment of The Greatest Generation. I looked to him as a surrogate grandfather of sorts. That’s is how he treated his employees, after all. With care, respect, and INTEGRITY. Something was truly lost as his company passed to further generations. I have many fond memories of Mr Danby. He would often come up to me, while working for his son, and say “young lady, you are way too smart to be working here. Make sure you remember that and Do something more”. It always struck me funny ... something a family member would say, not an employer. I also remember every time his granddaughter would visit the office with her mom as a small child, his eyes would light up. He was smitten by his granddaughter Kristin and it came over his whole face. Mr Danby, you were a great man. I thank you for the way you held yourself to a high standard and challenged us to be our best selves. You would often say about your wife - with tongue-in-cheek - that you “put that show on the road”. And we’d all chuckle knowing who ruled that roost. And now you are once again reunited with your queen, putting that show on the road. May you now rest peacefully, my good man.

01/17/2019 06:35 am

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