Mary Cook Koontz

Mary Cook Kolmer Koontz, 85, of Lexington, passed away on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. at Lexington Medical Center.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at First Presbyterian Church in Lexington, NC with the Rev. Dr. Nancy Jo Dederer and the Rev. Sydne Check Allen officiating. The family will host a reception in the Church Fellowship Hall following the ceremony.

Mary Cook was born in Salem, VA on May 14, 1936 to George August Leonard Kolmer, Jr. and Emma Cameron Cook Kolmer. She was preceeded in death by her parents and her beloved brother, Dr. John Wilson Kolmer.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, William Robert “Bob” Koontz; her children, Mary Elizabeth Koontz White (Mark), Charles Jefferson Koontz (Paula), and Katherine Dale Koontz Guffey (Ensley); her brother, George Kolmer (Nancy), a sister-in-law, Mary Ann Kolmer; six grandchildren, Kelsey Holder (Will), Zachary White (Kate), Jacob White (Katie), Quinn White, Katherine White, and Wilson White; three great-grandchildren, Greyson Holder, Logan Holder, and Milo White; two step-grandchildren, Hunter House (Lori), and Elizabeth Anderson; two step-great-grandchildren, Kiley House and Paxton House; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of extended family and close friends.

Mary Cook graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, Virginia in 1954 and

attended Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC where she graduated in 1958.

As a 56-year member of First Presbyterian Church, she played handbells and served on numerous committees, was a member of Presbyterian Women and served as a Deacon. She was a former pre-school teacher at First Presbyterian, who was an inspiration in the lives of many children and a home maker who always kept her family in the forefront of all she did.

An avid lover of the outdoors, Mary Cook frequently hiked Mt. LeConte in Tennessee, the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia, and backpacked much of Europe with a dear friend when she was in her late 60’s and early 70’s. She loved volunteering and helping others, and most recently was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels.

One of her greatest delights was traveling with her grandchildren on a special “Grandmommie Trip” when they each turned ten years old. Trips were always centered around the grandchild’s interests and each trip created lasting memories. She also was a constant presence at their many sporting events, from community ball games and gymnastics meets through college athletic events.

In celebration of her life and interests, it is requested that memorials be directed to Salem College at 601 S. Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 or to   Meals on Wheels of Lexington at P.O Box 1697, Lexington, NC 27293.