Mary Dean

Mary Ellen Donahoe Dean passed away peacefully at Piney Forest Health and Rehab on May 5. She was born on April 9, 1932, in Accomac, Virginia, to the late Paul Riley Kidd and Fannye Rogers Donahoe.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert Allen Dean; three brothers, Joseph Stephen, Paul Riley, Jr., and William Rollyson Donahoe; and one grand-daughter, Dawn Pauletta Smallwood; and one great-grandson, Nicholas Smallwood.

She is survived by two daughters, Susan Dean Elzey (David) and Paulette Dean, both of Danville and six grandchildren, Jennifer Clark (Matt), Dennis Smallwood (Tarin), Michael Smallwood (Evelyn), Mark Smallwood (Jill), Brady Smallwood (Karissa), and Mary Susan Jenkins (Tim). She is also survived by 22 great-grandchildren.

Mary Ellen served in the Women’s Army Corps from 1950 to 1953 where she met her husband, Del, as they served as Army recruiters. She was a devoted Army wife and raised her two daughters in Hawaii, Kansas, Germany, and California before her husband retired in 1968 to live in Danville.

Mary Ellen has been a member of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church since 1968. Throughout her life, she was an avid volunteer at church, in Family Aid Services in Germany, her daughters’ schools, and Habitat for Humanity and God’s Storehouse in Danville.

She also worked as a receptionist at the Danville Area Humane Society until she was 87 years old.

After her mother’s death, Mary Ellen and Del cared for her brother, Billy, who had Down Syndrome for 13 years in their home until his death. She also was adored by her grand-daughter Dawn, who had cerebral palsy, and helped with Dawn’s care throughout her life.

She is remembered by friends and family as a kind person with a sharp sense of humor and a wonderful mother and grandmother. She was an excellent cook and homemaker. She knew every episode of Andy Griffith, enjoyed playing video games, and loved potato chips.

Mary Ellen loved her cat, Sallie, and would like donations in lieu of flowers to go to the Danville Area Humane Society at P.O. Box 3352, Danville, VA 24543.

The funeral will be held at the Townes Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, May 10 at 2 p.m. Family visitation will be held an hour before. Interment will be in Highland Burial Park.

Please sign the online guestbook on the Memory Wall at www.townesfuneralhome.com. The Dean family has entrusted arrangements to Townes Funeral Home and Crematory, 215 West Main St., Danville, VA, 434-793-1211