Obituary of Mary Alice Bristow Lown

A funeral service for Mary Alice Bristow Lown, age 87, of West Columbia, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on November 10, 2018, at St. David Lutheran Church, 132 St. David’s Church Road, West Columbia, SC. Mary died on November 2, 2018. The Rev. Glen Boland will conduct the service. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service (10:00 to 11:00 am) in the Commons Area of the church.  Burial after the service will be in the church cemetery. Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia is in charge.

The family suggests that memorials be made to St. David Lutheran Church with “World Hunger” or “We Care” in the memo line.

Mary was the daughter of Keith Dargan Bristow and Otelia Hook Bristow Kyzer. She was a 1949 graduate of Brookland-Cayce High School. She was a member of St. David Lutheran Church for 69 years. She was a member of and an alto soloist for the choir; a volunteer administrative assistant to the pastor; she worked on the wee care project, smocking gowns for stillborn children, made Christmas cards and served as crafts leader  to raise money to alleviate world hunger; and was a member of Young at Heart and the Martha circle. She also organized the Church Archives. She enjoyed a long and successful career with the Internal Revenue Service, where she advanced from the typing pool to the position of executive secretary to the Director of Intelligence Services. She earned numerous Special Act and Meritorious Service Awards.

Mrs. Lown was predeceased by her loving husband of 68 years, Ervin Francis Lown; brothers, Keith, Edward (Bud) and Robert Earl. She is survived by her sons, Mark (Kathie) of Kennesaw, GA and Neil (Laurel) of West Columbia; goddaughters, Karen Roberts of West Columbia, Kim Jolley (Lane) of West Columbia and Jill Byrum of New Bern, NC; grandchildren, Andrea Lown of Marietta, GA, Casey Martin (Eric) of South Charleston, WV and MaryRuth Lown of Boston, MA; and great-grandchildren, Whitney and Madelyn Martin. She is also survived by her brother, Vernon Bristow (and his wife Angeline); sisters-in-law, Margaret Bristow, Virginia Lown and Sybil Quattlebaum.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Right at Home (notably Jeanette Washington), Oakleaf Village/Oakhaven Staff, All Seasons Hospice, and The Retreat at Well More for their love, affection, and care for Mary.

Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia is assisting the family with arrangements.