Ada M. Maxwell | Volunteer, 85

Ada May MacFarland Maxwell, 85, of Rosemont, a community volunteer, died of a brain hemorrhage Dec. 8 at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Mrs. Maxwell graduated from Collingdale High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Drexel University, where she was a member of the archery team. For several years, she wrote for the News of Delaware County and for a real estate publication. Then, for 10 years, she was office supervisor in the legal department of Atlantic Richfield. In 1958 she married Robert F. Maxwell, an Atlantic Richfield attorney.

The couple moved to Radnor in 1962, and she became active in the community, serving terms as president of the Women of Christ Episcopal Church in Ithan and the Community Garden Club of Wayne.

She was past president of the Friends of Radnor Memorial Library and of the library's board, and edited its newsletter.

Mrs. Maxwell was a founding member of the Arts and Crafts League of Delaware County and was a volunteer tutor at Radnor Middle School and Radnor High School

A genealogist, she discovered that an ancestor, Henry Davis, fought in the Revolutionary War. She was active with the Daughters of the American Revolution scholarship program, and was a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

She and her family were world travelers who rode mules in the Grand Canyon and camels in Egypt.

Mrs. Maxwell is survived by her son, Robert M., and two grandchildren. Her husband died in 2004. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. today at Bringhurst Funeral Home, 225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd.