Mary E. Woodcox, 80, of Nappanee, Ind., died at 3:20 p.m., Saturday, June 28, 2014, at Miller’s Merry Manor, Wakarusa, Ind., after a lengthy illness.

She was born Nov. 16, 1933, in Nappanee, to Jacob and Elsie (Speicher) Mitschelen. Mary was a graduate of John Adams High School. On June 22, 1952, she married Kenneth Woodcox.

Mary was a lifetime resident of this area, living in Nappanee, Lakeville, Ind., Bremen, Ind., and South Bend, Ind. She was a homemaker and had worked at Christian Light Bookstore. She had also been a co-owner of Nappanee Antique Mall. Mary also drove for the Amish community. Mary was an active member of Nappanee Missionary Church and attended small church there. She was a volunteer and active with the Gospel Echoes Bible Study at Westville Correctional Facilities. Mary had a gentle, quiet spirit and was very caring. She had worked in various social ministries where she lived. Mary was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her husband; daughters: Becky (Dan) Royer, Brazil, South America; Debra (Larry) Chizum, Plymouth, Ind.; Kathy (David) Freistuhler, Antioch, Tenn.; sons: David (Barb) Woodcox, Randy (Carla) Woodcox, both of Mishawaka, Ind.; son-in-law: Butch Rittenhouse, Venice, Ill.; 16 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; a sister: Janice (Joe) Hastings, South Bend; and a sister-in-law: Sonny Mitschelen.

She was preceded in death by a daughter: Diane Rittenhouse; sister: Betty Marshall; and brother: Laurel ‘Sonny’ Mitschelen.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, at the Nappanee Missionary Church Chapel and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday, July 3, also at the church. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 3, at the church. Pastor Norm Reimer will officiate and burial will be in Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend. Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be given to Hannah’s House.