Mary D. Zepp, age 84 of Westminster, died peacefully on Tuesday evening June 28, 2011. She was born to Philip Dodd and Bertha Hitchcock on October 25, 1926 in South Hampton, NY. She was the wife of the late Ira G. Zepp, Jr.
In 1949 Mary received her BA from Western Maryland College then taught elementary school in between raising her four children.
With an MS in counseling from Western Maryland College in 1983, Mary began an extensive study in Sexuality Education which led to her certification through AASECT. She conducted workshops locally on Sexuality and Aging, Sexuality and the Disabled, and Sexuality and Cancer Patients. Additionally, from 1994-1996, Mary worked for the United Methodist Church’s Baltimore-Washington Conference’s Sexual Abuse Task Force for the Commission for Congregations and Pastors at Risk.
Her far-reaching volunteer work ranged from Girl Scouts, Sunday school, and the Carroll Players to Planned Parenthood, Hospice, and the Red Cross. Mary held a deep passion for examining the Status and Role of Women in the Contemporary Church. Her heart was large, and her parish/pastor relations work always involved social concerns.
All who knew Mary knew her angelic singing voice, and there are dozens of church choirs who remember her gift for song.
She is survived by her four children, Alan P. Zepp of Westminster, Karen P. Zepp of Columbia, Paul H. Zepp of CA, and Jody K. Zepp of Westminster; granddaughter, Rachael E. Carter; four sisters Margaret D. Easton of PA, Phyllis Dodd of ME, Barbara Protheroe and Virginia Wells both of CT; and step brother John N. Dodd of CT.
A memorial service celebrating Mary’s life will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 1:00 pm in Little Baker Chapel at McDaniel College.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following interest of Mary’s: Zepp Memorial Lectureship, c/o Rich Keith, 2 College Hill, McDaniel College, Westminster, MD 21157, Zimbabwe Mission Fund, c/o Charlie Moore, Community United Methodist Church, 1690 Reidel Road, Crofton, MD 21114 or St. Labre Indian School, Education Association, Ashland, Montana 59004.
Arrangements are by the Myers-Durboraw Funeral in Westminster, MD
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