Tributes | vindy.com — MARY ELIZABETH BARNHART

ABERDEEN, MD. – Mary Elizabeth (O’Connor) Barnhart died peacefully at BrightView Avondell on May 3, 2019, Bel Air, Md. at the age of 88.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Henry Lewis Barnhart and sister Nancie O’Connor Pierce of Grand Junction, Colo. and Fredric “Ted” O’Connor of Youngstown.

She is survived by daughters Becky and Scott Krieger of Bel Air, and Joan and Craig Masotti, Canton, Md.; sons Ted and Caroline Barnhart of Byesville and Randy and Anne Barnhart of Manchester, N.H. She loved her six grandchildren and eight great-children.

Mary was born on June 22, 1930, on the west side of Youngstown, to Detective Fredric T. O’Connor and Mary Rickert O’Connor.

She graduated from Chaney High School in 1948 with honors and particularly noteworthy is the fact that she took Latin for all four years. She attended Bowling Green College.

She met her future husband, Henry Lewis Barnhart, at Christ Mission Camp in 1948. They were both counselors at the time. They were originally scheduled to be wed on Nov. 25, 1950, but the Great Thanksgiving Weekend Blizzard of 1950 covered Northeast Ohio with 28 inches of snow, postponing the wedding for a week. Mary and Lew’s wedding rings forever bore the wrong wedding date engravings. Food prepared for their wedding, including sandwiches made with bread dyed green, pink, yellow and blue, was eaten by the families and neighbors who were snowed in by the blizzard. Lewis was living five miles away at his mother’s house in Struthers, and had to walk to Mary’s west side house to visit her on that snowy Saturday. Honeymoon was supposed to be in Washington, D.C., but the snow from the blizzard made travel difficult and they only got as far as Harrisburg in Lew’s 1939 maroon Ford.

Eventually Lew’s career with the U.S. Army as a Mathematician took them to Madison, Ind. to work at a U.S. Army facility, Jefferson Proving Ground. In 1958, Mary and Lew relocated to work at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, to what would become their hometown for their family.

Mary was a long-time member of the Grove Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen, where she sang in the choir for more than 40 years. Additionally, she held the posts of Deacon, Elder and Member of Session. In 1996, Mary was one of the founding committee members of Martha’s Meal Soup Kitchen located in the kitchen of the Grove Presbyterian Church. Lunch is served every Thursday to those in need. In 2005, Mary was surprised when Grove Church named the church kitchen in her honor: “Mary’s Kitchen.”

Mary touched the lives of many people in Harford County. She worked for the Harford County Board of Education while working in the Bakerfield Elementary School cafeteria. She could always be counted on for a loving smile and kind word to the students.

She was active in the League of Women Voters and was involved in getting Harford County’s Charter Home Rule initiative on the ballot and passed in 1972. She supported our soldiers by volunteering at the United Service Organizations (USO) in Aberdeen on Parke Street during the Vietnam War. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader while daughter’s Becky and Joanie were active in those organizations.

When husband Lew retired in 1983, Mary and Lew soon became volunteer delivery agents for Meals on Wheels. They did this for more than 20 years. In 1997, the Harford County, Maryland Department of Community Services awarded Mary and Lew as “Most Beautiful People” in recognition of their services to the community. Mary enjoyed sewing, ceramics, playing the piano and spending time with family in Youngstown, Aberdeen and during annual family gatherings at Ocean City, Md. She will always be remembered for her positive attitude and love for everyone she met.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Brightview Avondell, for their amazing care and compassion. “We also want to thank the Amedisys Foundation and Tribute Home Care for their tender assistance in her care.”

Calling hours are scheduled for Thursday, May 16, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home, 333 S Parke St., Aberdeen, MD 21001 Phone: (410) 272-4500 www.tarringcargo.com A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Friday, May 17, 2019, at the Grove Presbyterian Church, 50 East Bel Air Ave., Aberdeen, MD 21001 410-272-0896. www.facebook.com/grovepc. Visiting hours from 1 to 2 p.m. at the parlor at Grove Presbyterian Church. There will be a 2 p.m. Celebration Service in the sanctuary. Reception to follow at Mitchell Hall in the Monroe Building at Grove Church.

Memorial donations in her memory can be made to Grove Presbyterian Church, 50 East Bel Air Ave., Aberdeen, MD 21001. Check memo should designate in memory of Mary Barnhart.