Mary Baugh Olewiler, 1938 – 2005

Mary Baugh Olewiler, 67, Virginia Conference diaconal minister, died suddenly in Gloucester Court House, Va., on Nov. 7, 2005. Mary was born on March 11, 1938, in Tazewell, Va., in the Holston Conference. She attended Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens, Tenn., and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Va.   

As youth minister, Director of Christian Education (DCE), and Director of Program Ministries, Mary served churches in the Holston, Virginia, and Baltimore conferences for 20 years. In Tennessee, Mary was DCE, youth director, and office manager at churches in Spring City and Oak Ridge, before undertaking further training at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond. In Virginia, Mary served Ginter Park, Richmond (trainee); Bon Air, Richmond; and Christ Church, Arlington. She finished her career at Good Shepherd United Methodist in Silver Spring, Md., before marrying the Rev. William E. Olewiler, pastor of the Beulah/St. Paul Charge, Rappahannock District, in 1983.   

In retirement, Mary served on the councils on ministries of the Rappahannock, Roanoke, and Lynchburg districts. She was also chair of Children’s Ministries on the conference Age Level & Family Ministries Council. With Brenda Smith, she designed the first children’s section of the annual laity retreat. Mary felt a special closeness with her colleagues in the Christian Educators’ Fellowship.   

Rev. William E. "Bill" Olewiler survives, along with Mary’s sister-in-law, Martha Baugh Clarke; a niece, Sharon Baugh; and two nephews, Michael and Philip Baugh.   

Bill enjoys remembering that theirs was a boss/secretary relationship — Mary, DCE, was the boss, and Bill, administrative assistant at Christ UMC, Arlington, was the secretary. They worked together in Christian Education and Program Ministries for 10 years before their marriage.   Mary’s gentleness and empathy were well-known wherever she worked and lived. She had a rare talent for openness and caring, even with people who were hard to understand or to know.   

Martha Baugh Clarke adds: "I am the wife of Mary’s late brother, Walter. In honor of Mary, I want to comment on the bond of family. "Mary was a supreme example of how family can maintain a keen, detailed, and intense interest in each other. No matter the miles, Mary kept close by caring intensely and in detail about us. Family ties like that are vital to nurture the human spirit. Mary was a nurturer and very caring family member. We will truly feel that loss of her caring. We vow to keep the Baugh earthly family bond strong now that Mary, Walter Jr., Grandmother Baugh, and Grandfather Baugh are now all together as a heavenly family."

— Rev. William E. "Bill" Olewiler