Patricia J. Lewis

Our whole family is sad to announce that on May 30, 2022, Dr. Patricia Judge Lewis passed away from a short illness at the age of 93. Patsy, as she was known to all, retired at the age of 79 from her 37-year teaching career and professorship at Misericordia University, where she taught Social Work, the field in which she received her Doctorate from Hunter College at CCNY. Patsy was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, the oldest of six, and lived in the area her entire life. She graduated from Meyers High School and was accepted to the Rhode Island School of Design.  But as she waited for an available space there, she met and married her husband, Dr. Donald B. Lewis, and began a family. Neither college, career or traveling would happen until she was in her mid-thirties. 

Her children, and her surviving siblings, James, Marie, and Priscilla, all agree that Patsy was the quiet warrior. Despite many obstacles put before her due to the death of her husband at the age of 42, with love and determination she raised six children, owned and managed a Care Home, and completed her education up to the Doctoral level. She would tell her children that she always wanted to be a War Correspondent, traveling to hot-spots throughout the world, but she fast became enamored with teaching as she made lifelong friends there, and was admired by staff and students alike for her easy charm and subtle wit. 

Patsy enjoyed traveling with family, visiting New Zealand, Japan, several islands in the West Indies, Egypt, Mexico, and other destinations around the U.S. and abroad. Much of her travel was to visit her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was introduced to The Chautauqua Institution, NY, in 1974 by her daughter Pati Piper and son-in-law Steve Piper and continued visiting there every summer, enjoying the high level of cultural engagement and social life found there. Family would gather there to visit with Patsy to enjoy family discussions, peaceful serenity, engaging lectures, and superb entertainment. But by far Patsy’s favorite pastime was reading fiction, where she immersed herself in complex plots that kept her mind sharp. She was also an expert Bridge player, and enjoyed playing with friends and family throughout her life. 

Her most endearing quality was her ability to never lose her temper, especially with her children, and to love and support them in all things without reservation. A deep thinker, she always provided wise and thoughtful advice to family, friends, and students. Her love of every member of her extended family was exemplified by the following: when her grandson Christopher Larsen, a West Point graduate, was assigned to duty in Iraq, Patsy tried to get a visa to go and protect him from harm.  For this her brother renamed her the Avenging Granny. We will all miss the quiet warrior.

She leaves behind her children and their spouses, Pati Piper and Steve, Cynthia Larsen and Mark, Jessica Houlihan, Susan Berthel and Steve, and her son Donald and his wife Catherine along with three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Donald B. Lewis, her brother, Dr. Francis P. Judge, her sister Phyllis Judge Saldarriaga, and her daughter Marie M. Lewis.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

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Lorena Elizabeth Turner Davidson

Lorena Elizabeth Turner Davidson passed away on May 31, 2022, at the age of 96. Independent and strong-willed, creative and caring, Lorena lived her life to the full.

A child of the Depression, her family was “dusted out” for a few years, but then returned to Amarillo, Texas, where, by day, she worked hard on her father’s ranch and her nights included occasional drag races (she never lost a race) and the frequent rescue of downed glider pilots from her father’s fields.

She entered nurses’ training during the Second World War and became a R.N. During her training, she played piano in a Chicago nightclub — she played two musical instruments by ear, never having taken a lesson. She married the love of her life, Robert L. Davidson III, in 1950.

Raised in the Church of Christ, in her adulthood she declared herself a Deist and was inclined to believe, if there was a God, she was a woman. Our mother was a talented artist whose primary medium was the abstracts she painted on paper she made herself at our home in Princeton, New Jersey (1966 to 1990). She was also a voracious reader and, for several years, distributed a newsletter called Did You Know…? which allowed her to share the most fascinating true snippets she came across with a select group of readers. Although unable to attend a four-year college, she was self-educated to a remarkable degree and could probably have taught a comprehensive seminar in ancient world history.

In her final years, she nursed her husband with love and professionalism until his death, then turned her attentions to caring for the emotional well-being of almost everyone she encountered. She was a splendid mother-in-law to her son’s wife, Kate, adored her grandson, Marcus, and is survived by her two children, Roberta and Curtis, who were both shaped by her unbreakable strength of mind, her unsentimental engagement with life’s realities, and her unconditional love for them. She will always be a part of us, and we will always miss her.

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Carol E. McKinley

Carol E. McKinley, 76, died peacefully at the Cates House hospice in Ocala, Florida, on May 28, 2022.  Born in Trenton, NJ, she was a longtime resident of the Princeton area before retiring to Florida in 1999.

Carol attended Trenton State College and graduated from the Franklin School of Science and Arts in Philadelphia, with a certificate of proficiency in medical technology. She worked as a medical technologist in the Princeton Hospital laboratory for 30 years. Carol was an active volunteer, first at Trinity Episcopal Church in Princeton and more recently at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Ocala. For the past 10 years, she was a dedicated volunteer at the Food Pantry hosted by her church in partnership with Interfaith Services of Ocala.

Predeceased by her parents, Charlotte and William McKinley, she is survived by her sister Christine McKinley of Monmouth Junction, NJ.  A memorial service will be held in Ocala at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to be made to Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 260 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala, FL 34473.

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Marthe Tribble McKinnon 

Marthe T. McKinnon, 81, passed away peacefully on June 9 from complications of a stroke attended by family members. 

A former longtime Princeton resident, she attended Vassar College, earned a BA degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from Hunter College, and a degree in interior design from Parsons School of Design. 

She was an interior designer, an avid gardener, and collector of antiques who loved historic houses. An animal lover, especially dogs, she supported many animal welfare organizations. 

She was a member of the Acorn Club in Philadelphia, the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, First Families of Virginia, and the Huguenot Society. 

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Jim McKinnon, her son Malcolm and his wife Blair of Princeton, a granddaughter Elizabeth (Tribbie), and a grandson James. 

Contributions in her name may be made to SAVE, a Friend to Homeless Animals in Montgomery. 

A reception to celebrate her life will be held a later date.