Alma J Donlen

Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Aunt, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Friend, Jeweler, Businesswoman, Centenarian but above all – Matriarch.

Alma (Huth) Donlen went to her reward Sunday evening, September 3, 2023, at 100 years 6 months of life.

Alma was born in Zerbee, Schuylkill County, PA on March 3, 1923 to the late Evelyn (Griffiths) and Peter Huth. She also had a younger brother, Edward, to whom she affectionately referred to as Bo. Her grandmother, Dora Withelder Griffiths, and Aunt, Hazel Griffiths, were significantly influential in her upbringing.

Despite severe illnesses when young, Alma succeeded in school - attaining first trumpet chair in band and orchestra, lead roles in school plays and graduating third in her class from Reilly Township High School in 1940. She enjoyed music and dancing, which led her to meet her future husband, William (Bill) Donlen Jr, at a dance sponsored by her future father-in-law at the local ice cream parlor in Branchdale, PA in 1942.

Bill and Alma married at Sacred Heart Church in Zerbee on June 12, 1943, and the couple resided in the Donlen Family home in Branchdale. They welcomed son William III on January 5, 1946. Son James would enter in October 1948 followed by son Robert in July 1953. Soon after, seeing opportunity in an entirely new community in Bucks County, PA, Bill and Alma decided to leave family and friends to move to Levittown, PA. A week before Christmas 1953 Alma and Bill with their 3 sons moved into – for the first time ever – a brand new home.

Despite being far from family, the couple established themselves in the constantly emerging community of Levittown. They were founding parishioners at St. Michael the Archangel parish where Sunday Mass was held at Edgely Firehouse and attending school at St. Thomas Aquinas while the parish buildings were being built. Dealing with night shifts, Alma and Bill built their opportunities into achievements. Alma soon took over the office work with Bill’s newly formed business – a private detective agency. She also managed the household, finances, the business office and a growing family welcoming sons Patrick in 1956 and Terrence in 1961.

Her experiences with balancing business and family through the ‘50s, ’60s and ‘70s, gave her the confidence to take on a new endeavor – work outside the home. Alongside her sister-in-law, Alma (Rowlands) Huth, she applied for her first job at Lane Bryant in the Oxford Valley Mall. In a few years, Alma moved to Bailey, Banks and Biddle Jewelers and began a new aspect of her grown-up career. She did this all while still managing the household. Upon retirement Alma joined Bill on some travel excursions to Maine, Florida, and California.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, brother Bo and sister-in-law Alma. She is survived by her five sons – William III, James (Nicky), Robert (Margaret), Patrick (Denise) and Terrence. She was grandmother to seven grandchildren – Brian, Christopher, Meghan, Brianna, Erin, Juli and Ryan. She was also great grandmother to Issabella, Brianna and James. She will be greatly missed by many nieces and nephews on both the Donlen and Huth sides of the family as well.

Friends and family are invited to attend services on Thursday, September 7, 2023, with visitation starting at 9:00am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at St. Michael the Archangel Church (66 Levittown Pkwy, Levittown, PA 19054). Committal service will follow at Resurrection Cemetery (5201 Hulmeville Rd, Bensalem, PA 19020).