Jean B Stratton

August 18, 2018

Jean Luckhardt Barclay Robbins Stratton August 23, 1924 - August 18, 2018 Jean Luckhardt Barclay Robbins Stratton died peacefully on August 18, 2018 at Medford Leas, Medford, New Jersey at the age of 93. Her two daughters Nan Barclay Bragg and Allison Barclay Young were by her side. Her family is very grateful for the support Jean received from the Medford Leas medical staff, her friends, and the caring communities of Medford Leas, Westfield Friends and Medford Meeting. Jean was born in Mt Vernon, NY. August 23, 1924 to Mildred Corell Luckhardt and Gustov George Luckhardt. Her sister Mildred Mary (Meo) and brother Philip followed a few years later. Meo was two years younger and Jean’s best friend. Every night before they would go to sleep, they would ask each other “anything funny happen at school today?”. On Jean’s 12th birthday, she and her younger brother Phil (six years old at the time) traveled by train to New York City by themselves to visit Cental Park. The Luckhardt family spent many summers visiting Maine starting in 1933. In 1948, the Luckhardts bought a cottage on Cousins Island in Yarmouth, Maine. Those summers were wonderful for the family and through the years that tradition continued to the present time with siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews and travelers from afar all meeting in Maine for swimming, boating, seafood, games, reading and plenty of adventures. Jean participated in “General Swim” in Casco Bay with Meo until the summer of 2017. In 1927, the Luckhardts moved to Harrison, NY where Jean graduated from high school. She continued her education at Middlebury College where she met Betsy Barclay. Betsy and Jean started playing competitive scrabble together while at Middlebury and continued playing until 2017. Jean (Lucky) graduated from Middlebury in 1946 and went into a training program with Vick Chemical Company in NYC. She left the training program for a teaching job that was beckoning at Port Chester (NY) Junior High. In September 1947, Jean, Betsy and other friends found themselves in Boston ready to “seek their fortune” and sharing an apartment on Blossom Street, overlooking “The Gulf” (gas station). Jean worked as a case worker for the Children’s Mission. In October of 1948, Jean married Betsy’s older brother, Walter Barclay and moved to the Barclay homestead in Riverton, NJ. Jean had a part-time job teaching at Westfield Friends School while raising four children: Richard, Douglas, Nan and Allison. Walter (Swarthmore graduate) owned and operated the Barclay Insurance Company until his death in 1964. Life at Lippincott Avenue was a revolving door with the coming and going of friends, neighbors, family and acquaintances of every sort. Holidays and birthdays were huge events. In 1953, Walter bought Jean a cottage near her parents on Cousins Island and right next door to her sister, Meo. Walter told Jean that it was her house and she could paint the house purple if she wished. The Barclay family spent many fun-filled summers on Cousins Island. While living in Riverton, as President of the Riverton Library, Jean was instrumental in fund raising for an addition. For 25 years, she was on the board at the Cinnaminson Home, a local home for the elderly and in the 70’s Jean was elected to the Riverton School Board. The Barclay children all graduated from Westfield Friends school and were members of Westfield Meeting. Jean remained active for years with the school and Westfield Meeting. Jean showed her support for both the school and the meeting by participating as a member, Clerk of the meeting as well as serving on numerous committees. In 1966, Jean married Lew Robbins (Swarthmore graduate) and an old friend of the Barclays. Jean and Lew combined families and moved to another home in Riverton with five teenagers: Bill, Richard, Doug, Francie, Nan and nine-year-old Allison. Susan was on her own after graduating from college. Life was lively, filled with all sorts of adventures and mishaps. Jean worked part time for the LM Robbins company with Lew in Philadelphia and they traveled together on very interesting business trips to England, France and Germany. Jean helped with the hosting of many people from those companies when they were in the U.S. In 2001, Lew and Jean moved from Riverton to Medford Leas Continuing Care Retirement Community in Medford, NJ, where Jean immediately became involved with many committees there; one being the Volunteer Coordinator. Lew passed away in 2002. Dr. Roland Stratton (Bud) a Medford Leas resident and Jean were married in 2003. Bud’s two wives had passed away and he and Jean had much in common from the many children and step children they both had. Jean was comforted by the fact that Bud knew both Walter Barclay and Lew Robbins and they could talk about both together. In 2014, Jean’s son Douglas passed away and Richard died the following year in 2015. Bud was a great support for her during these tragic times and he maintained his gentle, caring way with her until her passing. Bud’s harmonica was always an uplifting addition to any occasion and the music brought a smile and a sparkle to Jean’s eyes. Medford Meeting was a source of spiritual guidance for them both. They enjoyed their summers at Cousins Island and traveling to visit all their children and friends. Jean paid close attention to her family and friends and was a thoughtful listener who treated all with kindness and civility. Her drive to carry on through life and overcome all the tough times she faced, gave her the gift of understanding people and situations through a very wide lens. When life became challenging for Jean, she relied on the Quaker philosophy to “proceed as the way opens”. The way opened many times for Jean and each time she became a stronger person and inspiration to all who knew her. Jean is survived by her husband Dr. Roland Stratton; her sister Mildred Mary Kenney; her daughters and their spouses Nan and Dale Bragg, Allison and Russell Young; her grandchildren: Julie, Jonathan, Nicole and Daniel along with many nieces, nephews, step-children and step-grandchildren. She is also survived by her long-time friend and sister-in-law Betsy Barclay Wales. A gathering with her family and friends to remember Jean’s life will be held on Sunday, October 7, 2018 from 3:00-6:00 in the Holly Room at Medford Leas, One Medford Leas Way, Medford, NJ 08057 In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Westfield Friends School or Westfield Friends Meeting, 2201 Riverton Rd., Cinnaminson, NJ, 08077 or Riverton Free Library, 306 Main St., Riverton, NJ 08077