Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Janet Hester COMLY
JANET HESTER COMLY KALB
Janet Kalb, 96, of Wilmington, Delaware and formerly of Landenberg, Pennsylvania, passed away on Sunday, October 14th.
Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to Emma Neun Comly and Daniel Webster Shelly Comly. She spent most of her youth in various towns in New Jersey, as her father was transferred nine times in nine years, before settling in Hamilton Square where she spent her high school years. A graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois, she went on to work for the New York Sun until her marriage to George H. Kalb and moving to Wilmington, Delaware. After the birth of their first son in 1945, they soon moved in 1946 to Landenberg, Pennsylvania where she lived full time until 2001 and raised her three children and was very active in the community.
In her early years in Landenberg, she enjoyed raising her children, tending to her flock of Dorset sheep that peaked at 88 head and other farm animals. Mrs. Kalb was also active in a local Theater group, Bowling, Dancing and being a Cub Scout leader.
In the later 50’s, she and George took up boating on the Chesapeake Bay and became members of the United State Power Squadron, where they joined the Wilmington chapter. Here they studied boating, navigation and other classes that were offered. Soon they bought a boat and shortly after began to compete in navigational contests with the power squadron all over the Chesapeake Bay region. She continued to compete even after the loss of George in 1974, until she gave up their boat in the late 80’s.
In 1965 she was one of the founding members that organized the White Clay Creek Watershed association. They proceeded to pursue reasonable objection to a proposed dam project that would have taken place on the White Clay Creek in Delaware and impacted Pennsylvania greatly in doing so. They continued for years to go to meetings until they were successful in getting the project turned down and abandoned. She remained a member of the board of directors until her death.
After the dam project was struck down, Janet and the White Clay Watershed Association and a group of people from Delaware along with then Delaware Senator Joe Biden went to the land holder that was holding the land for the dam project, and suggested that they donate all the land jointly to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and State of Delaware for land preservation. Eventually after much negotiation, they were called back to meet with the land holder, who had called them in to inform them that Pennsylvania & Delaware agreed to accept the land and form part of what we know as the White Clay Creek Preserve in Pennsylvania and the White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware.
Surviving are her Son John Robert of Saint Augustine Florida, Grandson John Christopher and 3 Great Grandchildren of Gulf Breeze Florida, Joshua Mark, wife Jennifer and 2 Great Grandchildren of Atlanta Georgia, and Grandson Eben Michael Anderson, wife Amanda and 2 Great Grandchildren of Birmingham Alabama, Niece Linda Penrose Chamblee of Raleigh, North Carolina & Philip Jay Penrose with whom she lived with since 2001.
She was predeceased by husband George H., son Kurt Richard and daughter Karen Kalb Anderson.
Visitation will be Thursday November 15th at the New London Presbyterian Church from 1:00 – 2:30, followed by a service and interment afterward in the New London Presbyterian Church cemetery.
There will be a celebration of life held next summer at Borderland Vineyard located on the family farm in Landenberg. As soon as a date and time are reached the family will get that information out.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Natural Lands Trust, 1031 Palmers Mill Road, Media, Pennsylvania 19063-1098.
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