1930
Mary
2017
Mary Hartwell Epting
January 1, 1930 — June 2, 2017
Mary Ellen Epting, age 87, of Smith Mountain Lake, VA, passed peacefully into heaven on Friday, June 2, 2017.
Mary Ellen Hartwell was born in Danville, KY to Troy Kern and Mary Routledge Hartwell. The family moved to Marion, IL, where she completed high school before going off to Washington University in St. Louis. In 1952 she received a degree in nursing, and began work as a pediatric nurse at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Later she moved to Louisville, KY, where she met Edward Hill Epting. They married in 1956 and had three children: Kathy, Jay, and Mary.
Mary Ellen worked as a registered nurse for several private practices as Edward Epting’s career with AT&T took them to Tennessee, Mississippi, and New Jersey. Eventually they retired and moved to Smith Mountain Lake, VA in 1982. After settling in their new home, she earned a Master’s degree from Hollins College in Roanoke. And it was at Smith Mountain Lake that she met some Christian friends who started a bible study group. This group, which included Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal members, eventually formed a unique new church, Trinity Ecumenical Parish. The church, which is affiliated with all three denominations, has grown to 500 members, and it became an extended family to them for the rest of their lives.
She is survived by her three children, Kathy Smith, Jay Epting, and Mary Pugh, and by 4 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held 10:00 am Thursday, June 8 at Trinity Ecumenical Parish, 40 Lakemount Dr., Moneta, VA 24121. Any donations may be made to the church.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory – Roanoke Chapel is assisting the family.
Mary Ellen Hartwell was born in Danville, KY to Troy Kern and Mary Routledge Hartwell. The family moved to Marion, IL, where she completed high school before going off to Washington University in St. Louis. In 1952 she received a degree in nursing, and began work as a pediatric nurse at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Later she moved to Louisville, KY, where she met Edward Hill Epting. They married in 1956 and had three children: Kathy, Jay, and Mary.
Mary Ellen worked as a registered nurse for several private practices as Edward Epting’s career with AT&T took them to Tennessee, Mississippi, and New Jersey. Eventually they retired and moved to Smith Mountain Lake, VA in 1982. After settling in their new home, she earned a Master’s degree from Hollins College in Roanoke. And it was at Smith Mountain Lake that she met some Christian friends who started a bible study group. This group, which included Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal members, eventually formed a unique new church, Trinity Ecumenical Parish. The church, which is affiliated with all three denominations, has grown to 500 members, and it became an extended family to them for the rest of their lives.
She is survived by her three children, Kathy Smith, Jay Epting, and Mary Pugh, and by 4 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held 10:00 am Thursday, June 8 at Trinity Ecumenical Parish, 40 Lakemount Dr., Moneta, VA 24121. Any donations may be made to the church.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory – Roanoke Chapel is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Hartwell Epting, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 2
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors