Mary Rudasill Pankey
Mary Rudasill Pankey, 88, of State College, PA, died Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College. She resided at Foxdale Village in State College.
Born March 27, 1928, in Richmond, VA, she was the daughter of the late Luther and Marie Johnson Rudasill, of Woodville, VA, and sister to the late Jane Rudasill Hopkins and Louise Rudasill O´Bannon. Mary grew up in Woodville, was a member of the Woodville Baptist Church, and attended Woodville Elementary School. She graduated from Sperryville High School, played forward on the school basketball team, and was Valedictorian of the 12-member 1945 senior class. Mary continued her education at “Madison College” (now James Madison University) where she was tapped into the Kappa Delta Pi Honorary Education Society and received her Bachelor´s degree in 1949.
On August 19,1950, at Woodville Baptist Church, she married Rev. F. Lawson Pankey, of Pamplin, VA. They enjoyed 60 loving years of marriage, residing primarily in Richmond. Mary dedicated years to caring for her husband during his long struggle with Parkinson´s Disease until his death in December 2010.
A loving mother, grandmother, and aunt, she is survived by four children, David H. Pankey and his wife, Irene, of Alexandria, VA, Thomas W. Pankey and his wife, Sara, of Oakland, CA, Susan M. Pankey of Burlington, VT and Elizabeth “Libby” Mortensen and her husband, David, of State College. She is survived by six grandchildren, one great-grandson, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved granddaughter, Erin.
Mary did graduate study in Richmond in nutrition science and education, and served six years as Nutrition Educator with the Dairy Council of Central Virginia, including two as Executive Director. She went on to work more than 15 years as a Health Nutritionist for the city of Richmond and the State of Virginia.
Mary lived a life of service for others, including as a longtime member of River Road Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, as a teacher, deacon, and active WMU member. She volunteered her time generously to Meals on Wheels, Girl Scouts, and other outreach programs. Throughout her life she was an advocate for human rights and racial justice.
A memorial service for Mary will be held at 2:00 pm on October 1 at River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond.
Online condolences and signing of a memorial guest book can be made at www.kochfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to River Road Church, Baptist, at www.rrcb.org or 8000 River Road, Richmond, VA 23229.