Morgan Brenner

Morgan Gipe Brenner age 86 of Havertown, Delaware County, died December 3 at home.

A native of York, Mr. Brenner was the son of the late Walker Nevin and Harriet Gipe Brenner and the grandson of the late Morgan Eugene Gipe. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elsa Eleanor Ayres of Sheffield, Pennsylvania. He also is survived by three children, Margaret (Maggie) Susan Brenner, of New Castle, Delaware; David Morgan Brenner, of Cardiff-by-the Sea, California; Kathryn (Katie) Ayres Brenner, of Boise, Idaho, and by five grandchildren (Shannon and Dylan, Ellie and Silas, Sophia) one great grandson (Trey). Predeceased by his grandson Joshua Aaron Baker.

A 1950 graduate of William Penn Senior High School, Mr. Brenner was a member of the band and orchestra and was a member of the 1949 baseball team. In 1949 and 1950, he was awarded a "Superior" designation in Rudimental Snare Drumming at the PMEA State Music and Forensic League contests.

Mr. Brenner attended Duke University and graduated from Adelphi College, now University.

Mr. Brenner was a retired 25-year employee of The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company where his last position was Director of Field Development. Mr. Brenner began his life insurance career in 1960 as an agent in York with The Penn Mutual. He moved to a position in the home office of the company in 1973. Following his retirement, Mr. Brenner conducted a consulting practice to the life insurance industry. Prior to entering the life insurance business, Mr. Brenner taught in the Northern and Central York school districts.

Mr. Brenner was the color guard instructor of the York High School Marching Band from 1957 through 1973 and was the drill instructor of the band from 1966 through 1974. From 1957 through 1973, he was the public address announcer for the band's half time presentations.

Mr. Brenner also wrote and taught half-time shows for high school marching bands in Hagerstown and North Hagerstown, MD, Cumberland Valley, Chambersburg, Lock Haven, and Haverford Township, PA.

Mr. Brenner was the drill instructor of the drill team, Las Muchachas Magnificas, of the York Assembly #92 of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls from 1966 through 1976. The team won the state championship in 1971 (undefeated) and 1972 and tied for first place in 1968. The team held the record for most contest victories in Pennsylvania Rainbow history.

In 1958, Mr. Brenner organized Les Guillotiniers All-Girl Junior Color Guard, the official color guard of the city of York. The unit won the Pennsylvania American Legion junior color guard championship in 1959, 1960, and 1961, and the Pennsylvania VFW junior color guard championship in 1959 and 1961 and participated in color guard competitions through the east coast, once even traveling to Rockford, Illinois, for a contest. It disbanded after the 1964 season.

Mr. Brenner was a member of the York White Rose drum and bugle corps of American Legion Post #127 from 1949 through 1957, serving in the later years as drum instructor.

In 1950, the corps won the Pennsylvania State American Legion Championship. He also was a member of the Kiwanis Boys Band, the York City Band, and the York Community Band.

Mr. Brenner was a member of the All-American Association of Band and Drum and Bugle Corps Judges and served as a drum judge at many east coast drum and bugle corps competitions. He was also a member of the Mid-Atlantic Judges Association and served as a marching and maneuvering and as a general effect judge at many Philadelphia area high school band competitions. He was a member of the Upper Darby Sousa Band and a retired member of the Maple-Newtown Community Band.

Mr. Brenner was the first chairman of the Springfield Township Planning Commission and subsequently was the first chairman of the township's Zoning Hearing Board. He also served an interim appointment as Justice of the Peace in Springfield Township.

He was a member of the York County Baseball Umpires Association and of the York County Chapter of Approved PIAA Baseball Officials from 1952 through 1973.

Mr. Brenner was the Public Relations Director for the York White Roses baseball team of the Eastern League in 1962 and served as the public address announcer during the season.

He was lead drummer of the United State Second Army Band Pipe and Drum Corps at Ft. Meade, MD, from 1955-1956.

Family and friends are invited to greet the family 6-7:30 PM Thursday, December 13, 2018 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 8401 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082 followed by Words of Remembrance or Personal Reflections at 7:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Providence Animal Center, 555 Sandy Bank Road, Media, PA 19063, would be appreciated.