Obituary of Mary Virginia Towers

TOWERS- Mary Virginia of St. Thomas passed away at her residence on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at the age of 88. She was the daughter of the late Marshall Charles Towers and Mary Jean (nee Hamilton) Towers; and sister of the late Marshall Hamilton (Vivian) Towers. She is survived by her niece Tammy (Kevin) Bright and their son Ethan of Calgary and by her nephew Marshall Clayton Towers and his daughter Zoie also of Calgary. Mary Virginia was born and educated in St. Thomas where she attended Scott Street Public School, then St. Thomas Collegiate Institute, and ultimately became a 1952 Graduate from Alma College. She was employed for seven years with the William & Merrill Narcotic Division of Vick Chemical Company located on the corner of Talbot and Stanley Streets. Later, she worked as the Secretary Treasurer associated with her father Marshall C. Towers at the Towers Funeral Home Limited located at 31 Elgin Street for seventeen years. The funeral home was built by her grandfather Charles A. Towers in 1935 with Charles T. Finlay as the architect for the project. Mary Virginia was very involved in her community. She was Past President of the St. Thomas Branch of the Alma College Alumnae, Past International President during Alma College’s 100th year celebration during which time she travelled with members for reunions to Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago, she was the first President of the St. Thomas Quota Club – an organization assisting the deaf, she was nominated by the Y.W.C.A. as Woman of the Year in 1993, a member of the St. Thomas Golf & Country Club Business Girls Group, and a former member of the St. Thomas Cemetery Mausoleum Board. Mary Virginia was exceptionally involved with First United Church in St. Thomas. She was a lifetime member, a Member of the Official Board, former Chair of Worship and Music Committee, and active in the Celebration of the Church’s 185th anniversary in 2019. Visitation will be held at the Shawn Jackson Funeral Home 31 Elgin Street, St. Thomas (519-631-0570) on Sunday, November 29, 2020 from 2:00-5:00 pm. COVID-19 protocols will be implemented. A service to celebrate Mary Virginia’s life will be held in the funeral home chapel on Monday, November 30, 2020 at 11:00 am (due to COVID-19 restrictions, we require that you register your attendance for the funeral service via Mary Virginia’s tribute page on the funeral home website. Those who wish to see the funeral service, but do not want to attend can view the service by clicking on the link to the left). Entombment in St. Thomas Cemetery Mausoleum. If desired, donations to First United Church would be appreciated. Share memories of Mary Virginia Towers at www.sjfh.ca