Mary Alice Larson, 88, passed away on 10/18/2026 at Shenandoah Valley Westminster Canterbury (SVWC) in Winchester, VA. Mary was born in Greeley, Colorado, the first born of three children to Rev. John and Alice Lind. Her father was a minister and the family moved to McPherson, KS when she was nine months old. After five years the family moved to San Jose, CA for four years, then to Chicago, IL for three years and then to Springfield, MA where she attended middle and high school. In 1956 Mary returned to Chicago to attend North Park College where she received an AA degree and was then employed as a chartist by Allstate Insurance Company. During her time in Chicago, Mary met Denton Larson. They began dating but the relationship was not serious until the summer of 1960 when Denton was in Officers’ Candidate School in Newport, RI. Mary came home to visit her parents in Springfield, MA and the two got together and decided to get married. They were married on October 15, 1960, the day after Denton graduated from OCS and received his commission as an Ensign in United States Navy. This event began her travel adventures as a Navy wife moving to Athens, GA, then to Oakland, CA and back to Chicago, IL Their first child, Nancy, was born in 1962 in Oakland, CA.

After four years in the Navy, Mary and Denton decided it was time to settle down in the suburbs and enjoy life as civilians. However, Denton was offered an assignment as an auditor with the US Agency for International Development (USAID). They decided to delay the move to the suburbs and accepted the USAID offer, anticipating a stay of a few years to enjoy some world travel and adventure. Their first assignment was to Vientiane, Laos, delayed by a year in Washington, DC for orientation and training. During this year, their son, David, was born in Falls Church, VA. Mary and family arrived in Vientiane, Laos in January 1968. After two and one-half years of living the “Secret War in Laos” duty called again. This time the family moved to Jakarta, Indonesia where the USAID was starting a new program to assist the government to rebuild after the abortive communist coup. Indonesia was a difficult but exciting four years. But when an opportunity arose for a tour in Bangkok, Thailand, Mary answered with a resounding, “YES.” Thailand was a pleasant change offering many travel opportunities and gave Mary a chance to engage in yoga which became a part of her life. After nine years overseas, Denton was assigned to Washington, DC and the family settled in Annandale, VA. Three years later, Denton was assigned to Afghanistan and the family move again. This was a turbulent time in Afghanistan, a communist coup, the assassination of the American Ambassador and the Russian invasion. During the communist coup with tanks rolling down the streets and bullets flying, Mary became a “hero mom” to about a dozen high school children, some visiting from Pakistan at the time. The children all said that if there was trouble in Kabul again, they all wanted to stay with Mrs. Larson as they felt safe there. The Afghan tour of duty was cut short, and the family returned to Annandale, VA. Five years later, Mary and Denton headed south to Panama for their final four years of overseas living. At that point, Mary said she was finished with overseas living, returned to Virginia, and began to aggressively pursue some of the activities on her bucket list.

Mary was always interested in Arts and Crafts in every form imaginable. While living overseas she took every opportunity to acquire new artistic and craft hobbies. Name any craft or art and Mary was challenged to try her hand at it. In 1980 she returned to school and received an AA degree in Graphic Arts which led to her employment with AFCFA for Signal Magazine. Mary fell in love with Calligraphy and took every class and workshop available, studying with many accomplished calligraphers. Her skills in Calligraphy led to teaching Adult Education classes for Fairfax County and free-lance work for several organizations including some interesting work such as creating the award certificate for Maya Lin, designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a certificate in gold gilding to present a lifetime achievement award to Jean-Pierre Rampal, “The man with the Golden Flute.” Also, preparing invitations and addressing envelopes for fundraising functions of the Smithsonian introduced her to the addresses of the rich and famous. Mary also became an accomplished seamstress making many of her own and daughter’s dresses. A sewing machine accompanied her from country to country and home to home during her adult life. Her sewing and creative skills melded together to make magnificent quilts and handicrafts for family and charities. A miniature Christmas quilt is included in the Smithsonian Collection.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, a sister-in-law Eunice Larson, of Los Alamos, NM, son-in-law James Knott, of Chantilly, VA and sister-in-law Barbara Lind of Fox River Grove, IL.

Mary is survived by her husband of 66 years, Denton Larson of Winchester, VA, daughter, Nancy Larson-Knott of Chantilly, VA, son David Larson (Lynne Andreasen) of Centreville, VA, three grandchildren; Adam Larson of Arlington, VA; Erika Shakiba (Patrick Shakiba) of Washington, DC; Sierra Knott of Chantilly, VA; great grandson Leo Shakiba of Washington, DC; two brothers, Robert Lind of Northwood, IL, and David Lind (Phyllis Hunt) of Selah, WA.

Interment service and burial will be held on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 2pm at Quantico National Cemetery, Quantico, VA.

In Mary’s memory and in lieu of flowers the family requests any donations be sent to COVENANT CARES, PO Box 773420, Chicago, IL 60677-3420 or (https://giving.covchurch.org/covcares)