Kathryn Varnell, 93, Warwick Twp. leader

Kathryn Brossard Clarke Varnell, 93, formerly of Warwick Township, Chester County, a mother and civic volunteer, died Saturday, Feb. 6, of a heart ailment at Riddle Village in Media.

Known as "Kay," she was an only child reared in a house with servants during the Depression, and grew up to spend her life working for family and community.

"Officially, she died of aortic stenosis," said her son, John Clarke, emeritus professor of surgery at Drexel University, "but she really died because, blind and ultimately unable to walk, she could no longer help other people."

Born in Fort Wayne, Ind., she grew up in Chicago and wintered with her family in Palm Springs, Calif. She attended the Roycemore School until her senior year, when her father, John J. Brossard, vice president of Container Corp. of America, was transferred to Philadelphia to supervise the construction of the company's Manayunk plant.

She graduated from the Baldwin School in 1940. Two years later, she married A. Nelson Clarke Jr., a second lieutenant in the Army.

By 1950, she was living with four children and her husband, who was an invalid as a result of injuries in World War II, on the 200-year-old Mill Pond Farm in Warwick Township, just west of Knauertown.

"My mother wanted space, and it was all they could afford with his Army pension," her son said. The family got by on what it could raise on the farm.

She put her energy into helping bring the small community into the postwar era. She started a PTA and became its president, began a Girl Scout troop, and served for six years on the Owen J. Roberts school board.

Later, she helped write the Warwick Township zoning code, served on the township zoning board for nine years, and was president of the planning commission. When asked how she juggled so many activities, she replied, "I take what comes and make the best of it."

In 1969, at age 47, she became a widow. In 1971, she married a retired railroad executive, O.P. Varnell. In 1984, they moved to Hershey's Mill, an adult community in West Chester. There, she became president of the village council. She also organized an aquatic program and taught two classes of water exercise each weekday for 10 years.

In 1994, Mrs. Varnell and her husband moved to Riddle Village, a retirement community in Media. There, she again got busy, becoming president of the resident council and raising money to build a stage for the community's auditorium.

She organized an aquatic program and taught two classes of aquatic exercise each weekday for 19 years until she was 91. She also ran all the village's aquatic and fitness programs for four years.

Mrs. Varnell was a miniaturist and a member of the West Chester Miniature Club until her eyesight failed. She built award-winning dollhouses and exhibits, one of which won best of show for miniatures at the 1984 Philadelphia Flower Show.

Her favorite time of the year was Christmas, when she would gather her relatives for a party. As an only child, her dream had been to be surrounded by a large, happy family.

"This year, she literally left the hospital so that she could go directly to her Christmas party and see the excitement of her great-grandchildren," her son said.

In addition to her son, she is survived by daughters Joanne Guzzi and Marianne Clarke; 12 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Son James Clarke died in 2007, and her second husband died in 2013 at age 100.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the Town Hall in Riddle Village, 1048 W. Baltimore Pike, Media, Pa. 19063. Burial will be private.

Donations may be made to the Riddle Village Capital Fund in care of Riddle Village at the address above.

bcook@phillynews.com

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