Mary Virginia Lattimore Buell, 91, died Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at her home. She was born Sept. 25, 1920, in Upper Fairmount. She was the daughter of the late Lyman Jewett Lattimore and Sally Ann Bozman Lattimore, both of Upper Fairmount.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Deborah Buell Kodros and husband, William J. Kodros; granddaughter, Sally Irene Kodros Bradley and husband, Paul Bradley; and many blessed cousins and second cousins.
Mary attended and graduated from Fairmount Academy and Washington Lee High School in Arlington, Va. She attended nursing school at Peninsula General Hospital in Salisbury. After graduation, in 1942, she worked at Doctor's Hospital in Washington, D.C., while she awaited orders from the Public Health Service. She was assigned as a psychiatric nurse on Ellis Island in New York City. It was here that she met her future husband, Martin F. Buell, MD, who was also in the Public Health Service. This was the beginning of their lifelong love affair.
Mary and Martin were married Sept. 23, 1943, in Dearborn, Mich. They received permission to have the wedding at the Martha Mary Chapel, with Henry Ford's niece in attendance. Mary was a homemaker and cared for their young daughter, Debbie. She developed many skills during this time, sewing all of their clothes and decorating. Mary has always had a flair for fashion and design, as beauty has always been a guiding principle in her life. She always was a trusted and caring health professional and assisted her husband in his practice as his nurse.
As a child, Mary attended Methodist Church in Upper Fairmount. While she was in nursing school, she attended St. Peter's Episcopal Church and fell in love with the liturgy and music. After returning to Princess Anne, she became a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Along with her dear friends, Julia Ford, Mary Windsor, Peggy White and Emily Leckey, she served on the Altar Guild. She has always been interested in the care and beauty of the church. Her generous donations began one day with the replacement of a worn pall. She continued to be aware of the needs of the physical grounds and buildings of St. Andrew's. With her help, much has been accomplished. Mary humbly said, "It's a pleasure to me to do these things for the church, but it's the people who bring it to fruition that count." She has also been very devoted to the Princess Anne Historical Society, The Historical Trust, the Princess Anne library and the devoted Princess Anne Volunteer Fire Department.
Mary will be sorely missed by all of her wonderful friends and family.
Services are scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Princess Anne. A private visitation for the family will be held from 2-3 p.m. Interment will follow the service in St. Andrew's Episcopal Cemetery. The Rev. David Michaud will officiate.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 30513 Washington St., Princess Anne, Md. 21853.