Rev Mary Lula Warstler

Reverend Mary Lula (Pennock) Warstler has found peace, and now resides in Heaven with her Savior. She joined her husband Rodney Jay Warstler who passed away in March this year. They were married almost 65 years.

Her parents Theodore Everet and Mary Elizabeth (Coleman) Pennock preceded her in death along with two of her sisters, Nila Smith, and Decima Pennock. She is survived by her children:  Elizabeth Ann Flaker (Don), Timothy Jay Warstler, Martha Kay Coleman (Keith) and James Reese Warstler (Sandra), as well as her sisters, Theodora Pennock and Eleanor Hamilton (Pat).

Grandchildren include Don Flaker III, Andy (Joanne) Flaker, Nathan (Megan) Flaker, and Allison (Matt) Shipman, Samantha (Michael) Swan, Joseph Amend, Melinda (John) Amezcua, Ric (Jennifer) Mallard, and Will Mallard.

Great-grandchildren that she leaves behind are Luke and Zach Flaker, Nora, Lydia, and Tessa Flaker, Ellie and Jack Swan, Isabela Mallard and Liliana Amezcua, and Alexandria and Daniel Mallard.

Mary Lu was born February 15, 1938, in Oak Hill, West Virginia. She graduated from Collins High School in 1956. She attended Ashland College where she met and married Rodney. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Akron in 1980 and a Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in 1985.

Mary Lu was ordained a Deacon of the United Methodist Church in June 1984 and served churches in Kenmore in Akron and Bucyrus, Ohio. She retired from the ministry in June 2000. Mary Lu was a prolific writer and loved to tell stories. She published over 25 books, many short stories, and worship resources. Titles include “ Escape from Richmond,” “ Cats in the Belfry,” and “ Great Grandpa ’ s Diary.”

She also had a lifelong love of painting. The walls of her home were filled with pictures that she created with paints, charcoal, pastels, or any other medium of which she could think. Her family and friends were recipients of some of her artwork.

Mary Lu was creative with her preaching style as a United Methodist minister. She had a way of “ preaching” without really preaching. She weaved parable type stories that grabbed your attention and brought you closer to God. Her desire was to preach one more sermon, but the best sermon was the life she lived and how she lived it. Mary Lu was a friend and loved her friends. We want to thank any that were able to visit with her over the last three months. She enjoyed those visits.

Friends may call at 9:30 before the Memorial Service at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 23, 2022, at the Schlup Pucak Funeral Home, 788 Kenmore Blvd, Akron. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to The Oaks Foundation at Copeland Oaks or to a charity of your choice.