Mary L. (Smith) Ludlow

Mary L. Ludlow, 89, of La Porte, Indiana passed away Friday, July 21, 2017.

Mary was born April 26, 1928, in Tippah County, Ripley, Mississippi to Howard Levi and Mary (Gillard) Smith.

On March 4, 1948, in Ripley, Mississippi she married Lee E. Ludlow who preceded her in death on December 2, 2004.

Mary moved to La Porte in 1953, coming from Fort Campbell, Kentucky where her husband was serving in the Army during WWII, in the 11th Airborne Division.  She served in the La Porte County government for many years in the Recorder’s and Surveyor’s office and was elected La Porte County Recorder from 1981 to 1984.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, La Porte, a member and past Worthy Matron of the La Porte Chapter of Eastern Star #280, and Bartlett O.K. Houck, OES #229, in Bartlett, Tennessee.

Mary leaves behind three sons, Mark L. (Debra) Ludlow of La Porte, Timothy P. (Sylvia Espinosa) Ludlow and Ripley (Shelley) Ludlow also of La Porte; four granddaughters, Casey (Mike) Lapczynski, Heather (Adam) Scheiderer, Kaelynn (Matt) Deckard and Amanda (Dee) McDonald; eleven great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and her special friend and companion Richard “Dick” Ulam and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, six sisters and one brother.

Visitation will be from 4-7p.m. Monday, July 24, 2017, at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, 1117 Indiana Ave, La Porte, Indiana, where an Eastern Star service will be at 6:45 p.m.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church in La Porte, with Reverend Bob Vale. Family and friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will follow in Patton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1225 Michigan Ave, La Porte, Indiana 46350 or St. Jude’s, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

Please share condolences and memories with the family at Essling Funeral Home.com.

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