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Charles T. McIlhinney Sr., Esq.

Charles T. (Chuck) McIlhinney, Sr., Esq., of Doylestown, Pennsylvania died peacefully on Friday, May 19, 2023.  He was 81 years old.  Born the oldest of nine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late John J. and Adelene McIlhinney (DeLarso) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his loving fiancee, Jeanie Sciss, Chuck is survived by his son, Charles Jr., his wife Jennifer, and their two children, Tripp and Gabby; his daughter, Kara, and her two children, Paddy and Finn Cleary; and the extended family he found in Jeanie's children and grandchildren.

Chuck graduated from LaSalle College High School, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  He went on to and graduated from Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, where he was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.  He went on to attend Villanova University School of Law,  during which he was drafted into the United States Army, where he served stateside in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Prior to being honorably discharged from service with the United States Army, Chuck graduated from the University North Dakota School of Law, where earned his Bachelor of Laws degree and was honored with the American Jurisprudence Award in International Law for Excellence in that Field.    

In 1969 Chuck was admitted to practice as an Attorney and Counsellor of the Common Pleas and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania. Chuck then established himself in private practice in Doylestown where he and his family lived.   

During his 50+ years as an attorney, Chuck’s field of concentration evolved into municipal planning.  In addition to being elected by the Doylestown Borough Council members to become their Solicitor and General Counsel, he was also appointed by the Bucks County Commissioners to the office of  Solicitor to the Bucks County Planning Commission, where he continued to serve both for 30+ years.  His breadth of knowledge in local governmental planning earned him appointments as solicitor for several other Bucks County municipalities including, but not limited to, Durham Township and Ivyland Boro. 

He passionately believed that the scope of governmental authority versus individual rights is a delicate balance that can only be maintained through honest participation in the voting and electoral processes. Chuck never once missed the opportunity of an election to stand outside the polls and talk with his neighbors and remind all of the importance of making their voices heard and that government is meant to be by and for the people, not the other way around.  He was very proud when his son, Chuck, Jr. decided to go into public service and his subsequent accomplishments in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania Senate.

Everyone always knew that if he wasn’t in Doylestown, Chuck could probably be found in Brigantine, New Jersey, where he and his love Jeanie found respite in the quiet solitude of the small island Down at the shore, his biggest worry was keeping “Duke the Dog” from jumping into the bay. 

We all hope and pray that he and “Duke the Dog” are now reunited, exploring the beautiful countryside of his beloved Ireland.   He loved the music, the fellowship, the wit, and all that went with being Irish proud.  In his last days Chuck took great in sharing his favorite old folk ballad:

“Up the long ladder

and down the short rope 

to hell with King Billy

and God bless the Pop

If that doesn't do

we’ll tear them in two

and send them to hell 

with their red, white and blue”.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing on Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 10:00 am until his Funeral Service 12 noon in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 241 East Butler Avenue (at Sandy Ridge Rd.) New Britain, PA 18901. His interment will follow at St. John Neumann Cemetery in Chalfont. 

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Service/Memorial Information
  • Service

    Thursday, May 25th, 2023
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, New Britain
    241 East Butler Avenue
    New Britain, PA 18901

  • Service

    Thursday, May 25th, 2023
    12:00 PM

    Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, New Britain
    241 East Butler Avenue
    New Britain, PA 18901

  • Cemetery

    Thursday, May 25th, 2023

    St. John Neumann Cemetery
    3797 County Line Road
    Chalfont, PA 18914

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