Mary Ann Wandell

Mary Ann Wandell (nee: Mary Ann Conley) died in inpatient hospice care at York Hospital at 1135, December 9, 2022 as the result of a massive stroke suffered at home on November 28, 2022.  She is survived by her husband of 57 years, James L. Wandell.  Their home since November 2012 is located in Greene Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.  Among her many employments over her lifetime, she served in the United States Army Reserve as a helicopter dispatcher with the 195th Assault Support Helicopter Company and as the personnel sergeant of the 342d Army Security Agency Company.  Both units were located at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.  Her civilian career began as a hostess and server with two Howard Johnson restaurants, and as a PBX operator and clerk with a major Philadelphia moving company prior to her marriage to James in January 1966.  A world traveler with her husband, Mary Ann lived in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Korea where she had employment with Tomogawa University in Japan and the 1st Signal Brigade in Korea.  During her time in Japan and Korea, she became fluent in spoken and written Japanese and Korean languages.  On return to the US in 1987, she accepted civilian employment as an Intelligence Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency in the Washington, DC area.  A lifetime US Girl Scout member, Mary Ann was active in various leadership roles with U.S. Girl Scout troops located on American bases in Japan and Korea.  Her efforts in those regards resulted in her being awarded the Girl Scout Thanks Badge, a very high honor.  Between being in the US and overseas, she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s degree.  Also a lifetime fiber artist, Mary Ann was an avid spinner, weaver, knitter, crocheter, doll & bear maker, and an Aran cable pattern designer producing many crafts sold through her and her husband’s crafts business, Woodworks & Woolens.  Her interest in the fiber arts led to her co-founding a fiber arts guild on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  While in Japan, she studied the Japanese art of Kimekomi Doll making, eventually being awarded the rank of Instructor in that ancient art.  Wife, artist, homemaker, soldier, and Intelligence Officer, Mary Ann was the epitome of the modern American woman and will be missed by many.

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