Florence Blanche Townsley 1893

Florence Blanche Townsley (Grandmother) was born in 1893.  She died in

 Coatesville Hospital, Coatesville, Pa. on January 19, 1946, she was 53. She resided in Modena, Pa. in 1937. Alias/AKA: Flora. Cause of death: Breast cancer. 

(Photo shows Florence holding me at 424 Washington Avenue, Downingtown in December 1941. Since I was only four

 years old when she died, I really have no memory of her. –LEM)

 Mrs. B. F. Meredith.  Mrs. Florence Blanche Meredith, widow of the late Benjamin F. Meredith, of Modena, died in Coatesville Hospital early today in her 56th year.  She had been ill for several weeks and had been a medical patient at the hospital since December 15. Mrs. Meredith was a daughter of the late William E. and Florence Brunner (sic) Townsley and was born in West Caln Township where she spent her early life.  She resided for a time at Northbrook, but for many years had been a resident of Modena.  She was a member of Modena Presbyterian church and the Ladies Auxiliary to the Modena fire company.  Surviving her are three sons, William, Benjamin and Francis, all of whom served in the U. S. armed forces during the war and were recently discharged.  She is also survived by the following brothers and sisters:  William Townsley, of Berwyn; Jesse Townsley, of West Caln; Clara S., wife of Charles Johnson, of West Caln; Helen M., wife of James W. Skiles, of West Caln; and Mary, wife of Edmund M. Bireley, of Sadsbury township. The funeral will take place from the Ford Funeral Home in this city on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Interment will be in Upper Octorara Cemetery.  Friends have been invited to call at the funeral home Monday evening.  Coatesville Record.  1/19/1946.

 

(Note:  The above death notice gives her age as 55 when she died. This would make her birth year 1891, rather than the 1893 that is on the tombstone.  I do not know which is correct.--LEM )

 

 

In 1918, when Florence Blanche was 25, she married Benjamin Franklin Meredith 3rd (Grandfather), son of William Wilson Meredith 1st and Hanna Ella Sheeler. Born in 1899 in Glen Moore, Pa., Benjamin Franklin died at home in Modena, Pa. on February 11, 1937, he was 38. He was buried in Upper Octorara Presbyterian Cemetery. They resided in Modena, Pa. in 1937. His occupation was managing the family store in Modena. Cause of death: Pneumonia.7

 

They had the following children:

             William Wilson (1918-)

             Benjamin Franklin IV. Born on April 6, 1920.

             Francis Charles (1924-1997)

(Photo 1931: l. to r. - William, Florence, Benjamin IV, Benjamin III and Francis.)