Mary Young Oesterling of Winchester slipped peacefully into her next adventure with God on Saturday, May 2, under the outstanding care of Yolanda from My Potential at Home and several wonderful staff from Blue Ridge Hospice. Mary was born April 23, 1926, in Door County, WI, the youngest daughter of John Young and Helen Schaeffner Young. She began a lifelong love of music with her mother and a lifelong love of baseball with her father, taking her to hometown games from the age of 4. Mary studied music at Lawrence College in Appleton, WI, and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Capital University in Columbus, OH, serving as principal soprano soloist at both schools. After graduation and before leaving on a 6-week tour with the Capital University Chapel Choir, she married Victor K. Oesterling, Jr., on June 4, 1947. Mary and Vic spent their first years of marriage in Circleville, OH, and northern Wisconsin. In 1953, they bought a Walgreen’s pharmacy in Genoa City, WI, and moved with their 3 small children. During their ten years there, Mary taught public school music, served as choir director at Grace Lutheran Church, conducted a community choir in Handel’s Messiah, directed community theatre productions, and taught piano lessons. She also introduced her young family to camping and travel, activities she continued throughout her life. In 1963, Vic accepted the position of head of Pharmacy at the Christian Medical College and Hospital in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, South India, where they served as Lutheran missionaries until 1973. In India, Mary was well-known for many music and theatre activities, including conducting choirs, singing, and directing shows in Vellore and in Kodaikanal, where her children were in boarding school. She also studied classical Indian music (Carnatic) on the veena with world-renowned music guru, Chitti Babu, in Madras (now Chennai). On their return to the US, Mary and Vic settled in Florida, where her music continued. They owned a pharmacy in downtown Ft. Myers and became interested in boating and active in the local Power Squadron. In 1986 they bought a 35’ trawler, the Rx, and lived on the boat in the Ft. Myers marina, 3 blocks from the pharmacy. In 1988, they retired and headed to the Caribbean on the Rx, where they spent the next 5 years, often returning to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. They spent 2 hurricane seasons anchored off Caracas, Venezuela, taking time exploring the region and driving through the Amazon rainforest. While living on the boat, Mary wrote two books about their experiences, “The Wrong Boat” and “A Caribbean Adventure.” In 1992, they returned to India for a year of volunteer work at CMCH in Vellore. In 1993, Mary and Vic moved to “The Round House” outside of Hedgesville, WV, backed up to Short Mountain. They spent 8 wonderful years in the woods, entertaining family and friends, and taking their camper far and wide, including Canada and Mexico. Mary continued musical activities, serving as organist in several local churches and singing in the Masterworks Chorale in Shepherdstown. In 2001, they settled in Alligator Park in Punta Gorda, FL. Mary served as Organist & Choir Director at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Charlotte, FL, retiring from this final church job in 2011 at the age of 85. For her 81st birthday, she bought herself a camper and visited many FL state parks. The next year, Mary bought season tickets for the Port Charlotte Stone Crabs, the local baseball team. She was an avid fan! In 2009, she sang with the Piedmont Singers during their week-long choir residency at Canterbury Cathedral in England. Her last big trips were to India, where she spent six months in each of 2013, 2014, and 2015, celebrating her 86th, 87th, and 88th birthdays with friends there. In January 2017, Mary moved to Winchester. She lived at The Village at Orchard Ridge for a year, where she made many good friends. She spent the rest of her time with daughter Wendy and son-in-law Jim. Mary is survived by 3 children: Wendy (Jim Greene) of Winchester, Victor III (Lesley) of London, UK, and Becky Sharp (David) of Orlando, FL, 5 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and Maxi, her beloved feline companion. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be scheduled at a later date. Special thanks go to her loving caregiver Yolanda and the wonderful medical staff at Blue Ridge Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial contributions to “Multiply the Ministry” at Bethania Kids Foundation (serving 1000 poor children in India), www.bethaniakids.org and Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, VA 22601.