Mary Eva Unruh
Skelton-Womer, 84
Mary Eva Unruh Skelton-Womer, longtime resident of Chestertown, Md., passed away peacefully on Friday, January 14, 2022 after a brief illness.
Born in 1937, daughter of Roland and Dora Unruh, Mary was the second youngest in a 9-child farm family from Maryland, the only girl, with 8 brothers and whom she remained fiercely loyal to her throughout her entire life.
Mary was the valedictorian of her 1955 class of Chestertown High School and then attended Hood College on a full scholarship.
She married William J. Skelton II of Phillipsburg, Pa., a graduate of Shepard College, in 1957 and who preceded her in death, in 2014.
A trailblazer of her time in the 60s, when very few women worked outside of the home, Mary was a local TV personality in Toledo, Ohio, hosting an evening TV magazine and as the teacher star of the children's show Romper Room, appearing as Miss Mary for many years. Even so, she still made sure she made a home-cooked meal every night for her family.
After returning to the Eastern Shore, Mary had a successful career as a public relations professional serving as the PR Director at Washington College for many years, a local advertising agency, and with several other organizations.
In the late 90s Mary was hired as the first Director of Tourism for Kent County Delaware, a role she held for nearly 15 years. Mary worked with state and local officials to enhance the growth of tourism and business development throughout the county, promoting such events as the Tour DuPont, the Dover Speedway, and the Delmarva Poultry Festival over many seasons. She was an active and beloved member of the community and was the first female president of the Dover Rotary Club, embracing the "service before self" motto in a very personal way. While there Mary earned many awards and accolades for her many outstanding achievements.
Mary was a voracious reader, sometimes reading several books at one time, including reading cookbooks cover to cover. She loved to spend her free time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren at the beaches nearby in Rehoboth and Fenwick Delaware.
She was a generous, loving, and supportive mother, grandmother, and friend, who took great pride in being a planner and organizer of events both personal and professional throughout her lifetime.
Mary is survived by her son, William Skelton III of Easton, Md., his wife Susan, and their sons Christopher and Patrick; and daughter, Judi Skelton Spann and her husband Bill of Jacksonville, Fla. and their two children Dylan and Kirstin; as well as two of her brothers, Donald Lee Unruh and Denny Unruh.
A Christian memorial service will be held on February 5, 2022 from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, 130 Speer Road, Chestertown, Md.