Obituary of Madalene Katherine Ault

Madalene Katherine Ault, born Magdalene (Maggie) Catherine Lenco on January 17, 1929 in Beaver Dam Wisconsin to John Charles Lenco and Anna Blasko Lenco died June, 24, 2017 at Tall Oaks Assisted Living in Reston, VA. She was 88.  She is survived by her children Mark Ault of Springfield, VA, Michael Ault, of Sterling, VA, John Ault of Sterling, VA, and Jean Ault (and Lisa Jones-Bateman) of Ashburn, VA.  She was loved by her grandchildren John David Ault, Jr. of Berryville, VA, Desire Ault Myers of North Carolina, and Carter and Emily Ault of Ashburn, VA and great-grandchildren Alexis, Camille, Bryce, Taylor, & Layla.

The fifth of 10 children, she is also survived by her siblings Irene Knodle of Washington, PA, Christine Freeman of Pensecola, FL, Thomas Lenco of Cannonsburg, PA, and Donna Lenco of Brunswick, MD. She was predeceased by siblings John Lenco, Anne Ruoti, William Lenco, Florence Lander, and Raymond Lenco.  She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer Monroe Ault in 1977.

Mrs. Ault grew up in and around Washington, PA. She attended Immaculate Conception High School in 1948.  As a young woman, she held several jobs including at a glass factory with her sister Irene and as waitresses at the Central Drug Store.   She put herself through Beauty Culture School and worked in her aunt and uncle D’Altorio’s shop in Mannessen, PA. She worked at the beauty shop managed by Helen D’Salvio above the fashion hosiery shop on Main Street in Washington.

While working downtown, she would often pass the U.S. Navy recruiting center and see a sign that read “Join the Navy and See the World.” When she was 21 years old, that is what she did. In 1950 she joined the U.S. Navy in the WAVES.  She trained in Maryland and was stationed in Philadelphia, PA, where she served as a secretary to then Chaplain John J. O’Conner, who went on to become the Archbishop of the Diocese of New York. It was in Philadelphia that she met her husband Elmer, also in the Navy.  They married in November 1955 in Philadelphia and went on to live for 3 years in Osaka, Japan. They returned to the United States, lived in Falls Church, VA for 2 years then settled in the new planned community of Sterling Park in 1963. Mrs. Ault was a stay-at home mother until her husband’s death in 1977. She then returned to worked as a secretary for the National Wildlife Foundation and then for the National Geological Service in Reston, VA until her retirement in 1996.

Mrs. Ault was an active member of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church until the onset of her illness.  She served for many years as Treasurer of the Sterling Lioness Club. She enjoyed playing bingo at the Knight’s of Columbus barn and Scrabble with neighbors. She was an avid bowler and continued bowling into her 70s. She loved gardening, growing apples in her backyard, and feeding the birds. She loved her grandchildren and loved spending time with them.  She lived in the same house in Sterling Park for 49 years and was well-loved by the neighborhood children.  She also loved her pets, her favorite being Ushi, a dog given to her by her sister Donna.

There will be a service Adams-Green Funeral Home in Herndon, VA on July 15th at 1:00pm with a gathering at 12:00pm.  She will be buried with Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetary with her husband, on September 21 at 10:00am.  Thank you to the staff of Capital Caring Hospice, especially Rebecca Williams who cared for her so lovingly.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Lewy-Body Dementia Association (http://www.lbda.org/) or to The Sterling Foundation (www.sterlingfoundation.org)