Mary Margaret Mellinger

HOUSTON, TX Mary Margaret Mellinger, 95, formerly of Shrewsbury, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at the Methodist Willowbrook Hospital in Houston, TX. A celebration of life service will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 27, 2011 at Life Tributes by Olewiler & Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 35 Gotham Place, Red Lion with her foster son-in-law, Pastor Timothy Ezell, officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Hopewell Twp. A visitation will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Mary was born July 27, 1915, in Shrewsbury. She was the daughter of the late John and Irene (Jones) Mellinger. She was a graduate of Moodys Bible Institute and was commissioned as a missionary by Ralph Boyer through the former York Gospel Center. In 1945 she departed for Azrou, Morocco in North Africa and in 1950 co-founded with Irena Wenholz what is now known as the Fellowship International Mission which has grown to serve missionaries in over 30 countries. Later, in 1953, she and Irena also co-founded the Childrens Haven of Morocco, a home for orphaned children and Mommy Mary, as she affectionately became known, raised over 75 children. Over 100 children have been raised at the home that remains in operation today. After 60 years of dedicated service, Mary was retired by her mission and in 2005 returned to the United States. In 2006 Mary was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by Moody Bible Institute for her distinguished work as a missionary. In addition to all of her foster children around the world, including her oldest foster daughter Latifa Ring of Houston, Texas, who became her guardian and cared for her for the past five and a half years, Mary is survived by her nephews, David Hake and wife, Linda of Dallastown, Robert Hake and wife Betty of Red Lion and Nazimova Hake of Red Lion. She was preceded in death by her co-missionary, Irena Wenholz, by her beloved sister, Martha Hake, by her brother-in-law, J. Perry Hake, and nephew, Mervin Hake. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Mellinger Memorial Fund, c/o 8119 Western Trail Dr., Houston, TX 77040.