Mary Kathryn Burton Moomaw

Mary Kathryn Burton Moomaw died at Westminster-Canterbury April 15, 2016, 3 days after her eighty-third birthday.

She was born on April 12, 1933, in Knoxville, Tenn. to the late Aubrey Baxter and Esther Chandler Burton. She was the wife of Benjamin Franklin Moomaw, Jr.

Mary Kathryn attended public schools in Lynchburg and graduated from Salem Academy in Winston-Salem, N.C. She later attended Randolph College, and in 1952, she and Franklin were married. Mary Kathryn made the family home in a variety of places where the military and road building work of Franklin took them. These included Sasebo, Japan; Washington, D.C., Blacksburg, Va.; Maggie Valley and Waynesville, N.C.; and finally, Lynchburg, Va. Before moving to Westminister-Canterbury, they lived at Pine Hill Lake for 30 years.

She was a lifetime member of Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church and was a Sunday School teacher for many years, sang in the choir and was the organizer and participant in several prayer and Bible study groups. She was the organizer of the Lynchburg Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast for many years, and drove for Meals On Wheels and cooked for Daily Bread. She supported her husband in many volunteer and philanthropic activities during their marriage. She enjoyed traveling to Asia and Africa with several mission organizations in addition to her travels in the U.S., visiting most of the National Parks. Yosemite was a favorite, she enjoyed seeing her son, Burton, climb El Capitan there several times. Mary Kathryn also cherished her trips to Israel and Europe. She spent many hours on the sidelines of her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. She had a special joy during the time she spent at Bonita Beach in winter and Wrightsville Beach in summer!

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sons, Benjamin Franklin Moomaw and his wife, Kaye, of Lynchburg, and Aubrey Burton Moomaw and his wife, Julia, of Boone, N.C.; eight grandchildren, Franklin, Graham (Marissa), Mason, Clara, Maggie, Lucas, and Noah Moomaw, and Mary Ellen LaFreniere (Matt); great-granddaughter, Lola LaFreniere; her sister, Betty Burton Kirkpatrick; her nieces, Betsy Kirkpatrick and Kathryn Kirkpatrick; and her nephew, Tom Kirkpatrick.

The family expresses their thanks to the entire staff of Westminster-Canterbury 5th floor Hearthside, especially Michelle, Renee, Ruth, Mary and Kizzy for their care and also for the care and attention of Torwanda Brown and Megan Clonch.

A memorial service will take place at Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Ron Cox officiating. A reception for family and friends will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider the Moomaw Memorial Fund at Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church (2424 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503) which will be used to fund a suitable memorial in India or Nepal, two of her special areas of interest.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.