Edith P. Kilby, 97, of Elkton, MD passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 17, 2015.

Born October 15, 1917 in Helton, NC, Edith was the third of eight children of the late Charles Bradley Pennington and Frances Emily (Littlewood) Pennington. She moved with her family to Harford County in 1920 and graduated from Bel Air High School and then Towson Teachers College with a degree in elementary education. In 1939, after one year of teaching in a one-room school, she married John H. Kilby, Sr. and shared the life of a dairy farmer for the next 61 years until John’s death in 2000. After living several years on a farm near Oxford, PA, where her two oldest sons were born, she and John moved back to Harford County where four more children were born. In 1961 the family moved to Mt. Pleasant farm near Colora, where she remained until June 2014. Edith taught in Harford and Cecil County Public Schools and was deeply involved with community activities. She was an active member of the West Nottingham Presbyterian Church where she helped start the Meals-On-Wheels program. She was also a member of Calvert Grange, Cecil County Farm Bureau and the Country Thyme Garden Club. Edith enjoyed gardening, traveling, playing word games, especially Words with Friends, and learning about nature. She loved writing poetry and creating oil paintings. Her art is currently on display in Elkton, MD until February 27, 2015. Edith’s most cherished activities were those spent with her family, friends, and beloved grandchildren.

Edith is survived by her sons, John H. Kilby, Jr. and his wife, Nancy of Colora, MD, C. Robert Kilby of Rising Sun, MD, William B. Kilby and his wife, Phyllis of Colora, MD, and Richard E. Kilby and his wife, Gloria of Colora, MD; daughters, Emily R. Kilby of Elkton, MD and Edith Kilby Bacon and her husband, Mel of Elkton, MD; sixteen grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; brother, Herbert Pennington of Bel Air, MD; sister, Louise Pennington of Fallston, MD; sister-in-law, Doris Simmons Pennington, Bel Air, MD. Edith’s grandchildren are Sarah “Sally” Thompson, Conowingo, and husband James; John R. Kilby, North East, wife Mollie and children John A. and Sarah; Susan Dougherty, Glenmoore, PA, husband Tim and children Katie and Braeden; T. Scott Kilby, Conowingo, wife Carrie and children Emma, Thomas, Charles and Sophia; Robert J. Kilby, Reno, NV; Brian Kilby, Rising Sun; Nicola Bigley, Colora, husband Tony and sons Anthony and Nicholas “Cole”; Rebecca Kilby, Colora, husband Juan Arriaga and daughter Victoria Arriaga; W. Bradley Kilby, Jr., Colora, and children Catherine, Sarah, Hannah and Jacob; Megan Coleman, Colora, husband Douglas and children Alexandra and William; Kimberly De Leon, Wilmington, DE, husband Baldemar and sons Benjamin Babcock and Tyler De Leon; Melanie Harrison, Addison, VT, and husband Patrick; Amanda Kilby, Ashburton, New Zealand; Steven C. Webb, Sr., Colora, wife Alisa and children Courtney, S. Christopher, Jr., and Grace; Brendon Webb, Rising Sun, wife Toni and children Gannon, Madison and Annalia; and Karen Webb Mackie, Colora. Edith was predeceased by sisters Rose Pennington Sellers, Anna Pennington MacCauley Baumgardner and Almeda Pennington Gross and by brothers Charles B. Pennington, Jr. and John Wallace “Jack” Pennington.

A visitation will be held from 5pm to 7pm Friday, February 20, 2015 at West Nottingham Presbyterian Church, 1195 Firetower Rd., Colora, MD 21917. A service will be held in Edith’s honor at 11am Saturday, February 21, 2015 also at the church with burial to follow at West Nottingham Presbyterian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made payable to West Nottingham Presbyterian Church and sent in care of R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., 111 S. Queen St., Rising Sun, MD 21911.