Mary Anne Rader Obenshain, 95, of Troutville, passed away peacefully Friday, March 29, 2024 at Carrington Place with her children by her side after complications recovering from a hip fracture in January.
Mary Anne was many different things to many different people. She was a devoted Wife of 45 years, Mother, Friend, Nurse, Musician, Historian, and Farmer among so many other things.
A proud nurse, graduating in 1947 from the Lewis-Gale Nursing School, she worked over 40 years taking care of others from being a 15-year ER Lewis-Gale nurse to many different Lewis-Gale Clinics before retiring. Even after retirement, she went back to work for Friendship Manor for several years. She devoted her life to caring for others.
Mary Anne loved to play the piano and organ, and was a gift she loved sharing. She started playing for churches as a Freshman in High School, and continued playing until she was 92 and her vision declined. Born and raised in the Fincastle/Troutville area, she played numerous special occasions.
Mary Anne loved her church family and was a devoted Christian. Even after her vision failed and she could not longer play music for the church, she would do cards for the church to send out to shut-ins and took great pride in planning each card with care, adding personal touches like stickers and pictures to make others smile.
Mary Anne was a historian and loved to research genealogy and local history. She wrote several books about local area history, and spent years collecting documents and pictures for them. She was also a valued member and researcher for the DAR, helping others trace their roots.
Mary Anne was raised on a farm, and continued farming into her 80s. She loved animals, and even after she didn’t actively farm, she still tended her bird feeders and threw out scraps and dog biscuits to make sure her wild “critters” had snacks every night. She also loved her flowers and could grow anything. Even as she aged, kept a small container garden on her porch.
Mary Anne had an infectious laugh and a smile that would light up a room. She was strong willed and independent, and at barely 5 feet tall, she could be a force to be reckoned with. Even as her vision declined, she lived alone with minimal assistance until January of this year. Her mind and memory remained sharp as a tack, and she could fondly tell stories of her life right up to the very end. She often said she had a good life, and always said it with a smile.
Mary Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Velma Rader, and her husband, Kenneth Obenshain. She is survived by her son, Donald Obenshain and wife Pam; daughter, Carol Deavers and husband Mike; granddaughter, Amanda Deavers; and great-granddaughter, Mariah Tongkam. We would also like to thank Dora Howell, Virginia Visser, and Rochell Hudson for being dear lifelong friends.
The family received friends at Rader Funeral Home in Daleville from 5 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2..
A funeral service will be conducted at Troutville Church of the Brethren on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 2 p.m. with Pastor Terry Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
Thanks go out the Dr. Raza and Dr. Bhagat for years of caring for Mary Anne, and to the staff of Carrington Place for making her last few months as pleasant as possible. Being who she was, she even made friends there, and we thank Phyllis and Judy for their friendship and support in her last few months.
Memorial donations can be made in her name to Troutville Church of the Brethren or Harmony Farms/Angels of Assisi.
