Mary Louise Brown Blencowe

Mary Louise Brown Blencowe, 94, of Lynchburg died December 25 at Carriage Hill Retirement Community in Bedford. She was the widow of the late Wallace Timothy Blencowe to whom she was married for over 50 years.

Born December 12, 1915 in Lynchburg, she was the daughter of the late James Daniel Brown and Lula Maude Spinner Brown, both originally of Bedford County.

Louise is survived by her son James Alfred Blencowe and his wife Jo Anne, of Lynchburg, and a daughter, The Rev. Mary Janet Blencowe Murray and her husband Paul of Little Rock, Arkansas. She is survived by four grandchildren: Elizabeth James Blencowe Giarello of Neptune, Florida, Jennifer Lynn Blencowe  and James Scott Blencowe of Lynchburg, and Cara Hudson Owen of Nashville, Tennessee; and three great grandchildren: Alexandra Jones Blencowe, Hannah James Blencowe, and Nicholas James Blencowe, all of Lynchburg. She is also survived by her sister in law, Frances Blane Blencowe of Irvington, Virginia. and three nephews John Alfred Blencowe, William Thomas Blencowe and Dr. Douglas Daniels.

Louise also survived her two brothers, Frank Judson Brown and Daniel Louis Brown, and a sister Laura Ella Brown Fields.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Wallace Eugene Blencowe and a grandson, Christopher Blencowe Hudson.

Unlike many women of her generation, Louise was a woman with a career. She worked as a bookkeeper for several Lynchburg businesses and was retired from Lynchburg College where she was the office manager of the college bookstore.

She was a member of St. Paul\"™s Episcopal Church for almost 70 years where she served on the Alter Guild and helped prepare the weekly newsletter. She was dedicated to the mission of St. Paul\"™s Thrift Shop and volunteered there until she was nearly 90 years old. During her long life, she also volunteered for the Red Cross and was a member of the Auxiliary of Lynchburg General Hospital for many years. Before her health prevented it, she loved to work in the garden and was always working on a crocheting or handcraft project.

The family will receive friends at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg on today from 6:00 to 7:00 p. m. A graveside service will be conducted on Tuesday, January 5 at 10:00 a. m. in Spring Hill Cemetery, with The Rev. Todd M. Vie, Rector of St. Paul\"™s Episcopal Church officiating.

The family requests that memorials be made to St. Paul\"™s Episcopal Church, 605 Clay St. Lynchburg, 24501.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.