Mary Louise

Mckenny

Mary Louise Whitney McKenny, age 94, of Toledo, passed from this life on Saturday September 5th, in the arms of her family.
Mary was a life-long resident of Toledo, born here on July 19, 1921, daughter of Judge Herbert P. Whitney and Louise Metzger Whitney. Her family was one of the original settlers of Toledo and she had great pride in this and loved sharing Toledo history.
She graduated from DeVilbiss High School in 1939 and from Mount Holyoke College in 1943, Magna cum Laude. She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa her senior year. She graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a Doctorate in Jurisprudence in 1948.
After her graduation from Mount Holyoke College, Mary joined the WAVES. She was a LT. JG, serving in Washington DC working on code breaking. Her Unit received the Naval Unit Citation.
Active in Girl Scouts, Mary received the Eagle Scout award in 1935. She served the Brownies, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts as a leader.
She was formerly a member of Pilgrim Church UCC, where she served on the Board of Education and the Board of Christian Concerns and taught Sunday School for almost 30 years. She is presently a member of Sylvania UCC.
She was Chairman of the Board and President of the MLM Charitable Foundation from its inception in 1967 until the time of her death. The Foundation has supported many Toledo charities, including the Toledo Museum of Art, Grace Community Center, UCC outreach programs and various educational institutions.
Mary was passionate in her love for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was also passionate about family history, education in all its forms, and her charitable pursuits. Her faith was very personal but instrumental in how she lived her life.
She was predeceased by her husband Charles Arthur McKenny and her brother Thomas Porter Whitney. She is survived by her children Thomas (Holly), Arthur (Barbara), and Anne; her grandchildren Heather (Wade) Lippert, Nicholas, and Laurence (Katharine); and her great-grandchildren Lilly, Porter, Lucy Ellen, and Chase and several nieces and nephews.
Burial will be in the family plot in Woodlawn Cemetery in a private ceremony on Friday. A service celebrating her life will be held at Sylvania UCC on Saturday, September 12 at 1:30 pm, with a reception following. The family asks that gifts be made in her memory to Grace Community Center, Sylvania UCC or to the Mary Bishop Whitney Scholarship fund at Mount Holyoke College in lieu of flowers.