Mary Halford Vinton

VINTON, Mary Halford
Kalamazoo Our beloved Aunt Mary Halford Vinton passed away peacefully September 9 in Kalamazoo. Mary was born Dec. 8, 1915. She spent her childhood years on a farm in Mentha, Michigan, just northwest of Kalamazoo. Graduated from Kalamazoo College. Her father, Richard Friend Stroud, was a horticulturist and essential oil distiller from Rugby, England. The Stroud family emigrated from England to Michigan in the early 1920's. Mary taught English at South Junior High School for nearly 30 years. She was an exemplary teacher, revered by students, parents and colleagues. She drew the best out of the thousands of pupils who passed through her door. Enormously proud of, and thankful for her English heritage, she weighed and measured and tempered what was "right" by both American and British standards. Behind Mary's face there was conviction, propriety, a garden full of spring flowers, a powerful love of family, a proud and prideful command of the King's English, a walk down an English lane, an opinion about everything and a 'sense and sensibility' toward "this thing we call life." Christopher Wren said of St. Paul's, "If you seek my monument, look around you." If you seek Mary's monument look at the garden that begins the V going between Grand Pre and Jenks Blvd. off West Main St. Mary designed it and planted it and once in a while you will find there, under the bench, a wild strawberry and a twinkle in Mary's eye. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Friend Stroud & Gladys Halford Stroud; sisters, Betty Stroud and Elise Burkholder and her brother, Richard Friend Stroud II. She is survived by sister-in-law, Verna Stroud-Patterson and husband Wendel; nieces and nephews, Richard Stroud III, Michael Stroud, Wendy Stroud Lashbrook, from Kansas, MO, Pamela Burkholder Tracey of Winnetka, IL, their Auntie Mary was very special to them. Also, grand nieces and nephews, Sarah, Parker, Melissa Tracey and Logan, Jordan and Alexa Lashbrook, all who loved her so very dearly. A private memorial was held September 25th. Donations may be made in Mary's memory, to St. Martin of Tours Episcopal Church, 2010 Nichols Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49004-3200, 269- 381-3188. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. Please visit www.langelands.com for online obituary, register book and condolences. 343-1508