Mary Pauline Whitcraft

Mary Pauline Whitcraft, 95, Winona Lake, IN died at 12:10 a.m. Friday, May 9, 2014 in Grace Village Healthcare, Winona Lake, IN. She was born April 20, 1919 in Lancaster County, PA to Adam & Gertrude (Doster) Redcay. On January 1, 1940 she married Rev. John M. Whitcraft. He died April 30, 2013. Before motherhood, Mary worked in the doctors' dining room of Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster PA. After marrying her husband John, she became a homemaker and mother of their first three children. When it was decided that John would prepare for pastoral ministry, she once again became a full-time employee during the seven years he went to college and then seminary. Her diligence very much kept him focused to completion of that education. In 1959, Mary became a pastor's wife as John was called to serve the Liberty Mills Church of the Brethren. While serving the Liberty Mills Church, Mary and John added two more children to their family. They then served the Eversole Church of the Brethren in New Lebanon, OH. And then continued to serve several congregations in the Central and Northern Districts of the Church of the Brethren. Among them were Union Grove (Muncie), Eel River/West Eel River (North Manchester), New Paris and Roann churches. After John's retirement from pastoral ministry, Mary enjoyed working at Hardees in North Manchester for several years. Mary enjoyed fishing and bowling whenever she and John could fit it into their busy retired life. They particularly loved to attend sporting and special events in the lives of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also continued to garden and preserve food into her early 90's. At the age of 88 she went on her last rollercoaster ride at Hershey Park, PA. Mary was a daily Bible reader and every morning she and John prayed for their extensive family and many friends. Her faithful card ministry to all of those people will be very missed. The family already misses the Birthday phone call and harmony version of "Happy Birthday" that Mary and John would sing to each child, spouse and grandchild. Surviving are two sons, Jim (Jane) Whitcraft, Hoagland, IN; Scott (Crystal) Whitcraft, Wausau,WI. Three daughters, Brenda (Chuck) Petry, Ft. Wayne, IN; Faye (Larry) Jagger, Columbia City, IN; Pam (Duane) Metzger, Leesburg, IN. 17 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. A sister, Martha (Harold) Stauffer, Lancaster, PA. A sister-in-law, Margaret P. Whitcraft, Lititz, PA. One brother and one sister are deceased. Memorial Services will be held Friday, May 16, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Village Chapel, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN. Friends and family may call on Friday, May 16, 2014 from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. at Grace Village Chapel. Pastor David Wagner will officiate. Private burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester, IN. Arrangements are entrusted to McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 W, North Manchester, IN . For those who wish to honor the memory of Mary P. Whitcraft, contributions may be made to the Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, 1515 Provident Dr., Warsaw, IN 46580 or Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590. To send a private condolence to the Whitcraft family, use the Condolence link on the Homepage.