Mary Annette (Shultz) Thompson, 92, Winona Lake, met Jesus in person at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, after a friendship of many years.

She was born on Dec. 10, 1922, in Whittier, Calif. to Royce W. Schultz and Ferba Agnes (Summe) Shultz-Whittenberger. Both of her parents had spent their childhood years in the Claypool / Silver Lake area and had moved with their families to Southern California in the early 1900’s.

On June 14, 1947, Mary was married to Raymond Walter “Bud” Thompson, and they shared a full life together until his death on September 26, 1993. Mary attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, now Biola University, and began her working life as a secretary at an insurance company. When their family was young, Bud and Mary moved to Winona Lake, where Bud earned a Master of Divinity degree from Grace Seminary.

Upon graduation from seminary, they served at churches in Modesto and Bellflower, Calif. before returning to Winona in 1967 when Bud took a job with the Grace Brethren Foreign Missions office. During the next few years Mary worked as a writer and editor for the Free Methodist Headquarters. They completed their careers by serving eight years with the Grace Brethren Navajo Mission in Counselor, New Mexico before their retirement and return to their home on the Island in Winona.

Whatever the title or the role, Mary was always involved with children. She taught them, raised them, wrote and cooked for them. She was a mentor, a friend and a faithful example who will be missed by many people who look forward to seeing her again, healthy, vibrant and laughing. Mary has been a member of the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church since 1967.

She will be lovingly remembered by her two sons: Paul (Kandy) Thompson, Westfield; Don (Dale) Thompson, Birmingham, Ala.; four daughters: Judy Rae (Glenn) Firebaugh, State College, Penn.; Alice (Ron) Kinley, Portland, Ore.; Susie (Dave) Hobert, Winona Lake and Paray-le-Monial, France; Janice (Mark) Workman, Winona Lake; 18 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and her brother: John (Willi) Shultz, Temecula, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one son; and one daughter.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, Warsaw. Her funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, Winona Lake, and will be officiated by Pastor Bruce Barlow. Private family graveside services will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.

Memorial gifts in Mary’s name can be given to the Encompass World Partners, Monument, Colo. and designated to Montceau (France) Evangelism Fund.