Marsha Gray Laubenstein Knight-Scharnberg

1945 - 2016

Marsha Gray Laubenstein Knight-Scharnberg of West Chester Marsha Knight-Scharnberg, 70, passed away on September 2, 2016, suddenly, following a path of unpredictability that highlighted her most amazing life. Born in Philadelphia in 1945, Marsha was the daughter of the late Raymond P. and Doris (Lappin) Laubenstein. She grew up in Ashland, PA and spent her summers at Pocono Lake Preserve, PA. Marsha was in the first graduating female class from The Kent School in Kent, CT. She spent a year at St. Helens School, England in a program sponsored by the English Speaking Union (ESU), graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY and took her first job in Boston at publisher Little Brown and Co. Marsha became a Paralegal and moved back to Philadelphia, where she met and married a Philadelphia lawyer, Dan Knight and together they had their daughter, Gwendolyne. Marsha and Dan were active participants in The Savoy Company of Philadelphia, where she relished her perennial role as Queen Victoria in their Gilbert and Sullivan productions. Dan passed away after a brief battle with cancer, and Marsha lived as a single mother until her daughter introduced her to Jim Scharnberg, Master and Huntsman of the Skycastle French Hounds. They married in 2005 and she immediately assumed leadership of the household and the Skycastle Tea Committee with grace and aplomb, producing her funny “Reports from the Field”, which became an institution eagerly anticipated by all. She was an extremely witty, clever and intelligent person and her comments and commentary on Facebook were widely adored. Marsha was the beloved wife of Jim Scharnberg; loving mother of Gwendolyne Knight Keimpema (Erik); loving sister of Albert Laubenstein (Karen), Jim Laubenstein (Jan), Marilyn Mamone, and Lulu Laubenstein (Bill Good); dear step-mother of Eric Scharnberg (Cristina) and their daughters Olivia and Ayla, Alex Scharnberg, Charles Knight, Edward Knight, Carol Flaig and the late Jennifer Yoder; dear aunt of Brittany Laubenstein, Michael Laubenstein, Matt Laubenstein (Karna), Bryce Laubenstein, and Anderson Good. She and her aunt, Janet Butterbaugh, were the closest of lifelong friends. A service in celebration of her life will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 17th at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Ludwigs Corner, PA, followed by a reception at Ludwigs Inn. People wishing to remember her may make donations to the Savoy Company of Philadelphia and the Skycastle French Hounds. Arrangements by The Donohue Funeral Home, Downingtown, PA 19335, 610-269-3080. Online condolences at www.donohuefuneralhome.com.