Obituary of Mary Winnette Lowndes

Mary W. Lowndes, 70, of Sterling, VA, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at Loudoun Hospital . Born on June 7, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York she was the daughter of the late Herbert Connell Taylor and the late Eleanor Mitchell Taylor. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, Susan Reynolds. In 1967 Mary underwent only the 9th kidney transplant at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Her father was the donor and again it was one of the first relative donor transplants. One thing that she was warned about was not to go into teaching, which was her major in college. She graduated from Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, WV in 1968 with a degree in teaching. She then started teaching at a little country school in Cordova, IL. After getting married in 1969 to David who was a Sgt in the AF they started their life together in OK. In 1970 they moved to Virginia where she landed a job teaching at Sully Elementary School in Sterling, VA. After 35 years she retired in 2006 with time out for the arrival of her son. All 35 years were at Sully where she taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. She brought to her job the love of teaching which translated into her love of her students. Her favorite passion was collecting penguins and she use the various penguin stuffed animals she had collected to aid in her bringing across various subjects. Her other passion (besides her son, Nathan) was her two young grandchildren (Kinsey and Colby), and Community Lutheran Church, Sterling, VA, where she sang in the choir and for 10 years directed them. She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, David N. Lowndes; a son, David Nathan Lowndes and his wife Michele; and three grandchildren, Katlin, Kinsey and Colby. A memorial service will be held at 6:00 PM on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at Community Lutheran Church with Pastor Joseph Vought officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to National Kidney Foundation or Christian Education Ministry - Community Lutheran Church, Sterling, VA.