Mary Carrington Obituary

Mary O. Carrington
Norfolk - Mary Olson Carrington, 79, of Norfolk died peacefully on Thursday Dec. 15th following a long illness. Mary was born on July 3rd 1932 in Minneapolis to Erwin A. Olson and Mabel Nymoen Olson. Mary grew up in Minneapolis along with her two sisters. She was a proud alumnus of Skidmore College where she received her bachelor's degree in English. While at Skidmore she met and married Robert E. Willey. Mary and Bob settled in Chicago and had two children, Daniel Robert and Christine Mary. After Bob's untimely death, Mary eventually met and married Frank Carrington. Friends and family were always amused at how Frank and Mary were mutual culture shocks to each other; Mary being the very "direct" and outspoken Midwesterner; and Frank being from Virginia, and to boot a graduate of Hampden Sydney College. Need we say more?
Mary was an avid athlete and excelled as an equestrian, tennis player and skier. An excellent tennis player, even in her later years she enjoyed regular matches at the Princess Anne Country Club. Mary was striking in appearance; a six foot one redhead does not go unnoticed, and together with her good nature and infectious sense of humor she was a popular lady with everyone. She had an "open door" hospitality policy and was always ready to welcome her friends and her family into her home. She had extraordinary patience and a keen understanding of the trials and tribulations of younger people and her home on the Va. Beach oceanfront was a fun and popular gathering place for her children and their friends. How she loved to socialize, and she made us all feel special and honored in her home.
She was very active in the Va. Beach Republican Women's Club. She was also a champion of the dogs and cats of this world. She often spoke of her many dogs (Charlie, Edward, Felicia, Billy Wonton, and Lambchop) that were such an important part of her life, as well as her most recent pet, her cat, Walter Carrington, who lived almost 23 years and predeceased Mary by six months. Mary was generous with her time and resources with the local SPCA and always a staunch advocate of animal rights. She was a longtime member of Galilee Episcopal Church
Left behind in body but not in spirit are her son Dan, his wife Amy, and their children , Robert and his wife Lygie, Allan and his wife, Christina; Eric, Edith and Ben. Also left to cherish her memory are her daughter Christine Mary McFadden and her husband,Ted, and their daughters. Erin, Caroline and Kathleen. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Frank, and her sisters, Carol and Ann. Mary also is remembered fondly by her two step -daughters, Christine Carrington Winters and her daughter Gabrielle Winters; as well as Claire Carrington McDowell and her children, Mason and Avery McDowell.
Mary and her family wish to extend a very special thanks to family members, Donald and Carol Lisle, as well as Dr. Glenn Jones and his staff for their care and compassion to Mary and her family.
A celebration of Mary's life will be held On December 28th at 2:30 p.m. at Christ and St. Luke's Church at 560 W. Olney Rd. in Norfolk, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice or to Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church.