Mary Louise (Walston) Pfennig

Mary Louise (Walston) Pfennig, 80, of Rising Sun, IN, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2025 at her home. Mary was born in Cincinnati, OH on July 27, 1945, a daughter of the late Lenora (Graf) Walston and Stanley  Walston. She was a 1963 graduate of Reading High School. For over 61 years, Mary was the loving wife and partner of Tim Pfennig, Sr. Mary and Tim were married on May 2, 1964 at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church parsonage in Reading, OH. Mary and Tim moved to their farm in Rising Sun in 1970 with their two children, actively farming here until the 1990s.  They traded in their four-legged hogs for Harley Davidson "hawgs" in the 2000s, traveling to every state in the US and eight Canadian provinces, spending most nights in their tent. Mary also hiked the entire Appalachian Trail with friends and family (the Mountain Marchin' Mamas), starting in 1982 and completing the Trail in 1999. The Mamas have also hiked in many other states, as well as the Yorkshire Dales in England and in Greece. 

Mary went back to school when she was in her 40's, receiving her vet tech degree from the University of Cincinnati.  After graduating with honors, she worked at Corya Pork Farm in Greensburg, and then in the research department at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati. In 1995, Mary began assisting in the Rising Sun High School library, retiring from there in 2012. Mary was also a talented quilter and made many beautiful, meaningful pieces that her family and friends will cherish for years.

Mary is survived by her devoted husband, Tim Pfennig, Sr., of Rising Sun, IN; by her loving children, Tim Pfennig, Jr. (Linda), of Rising Sun, IN and Melanie Gross (Eric), of Woodbine, GA and by her granddaughter Ashley Moffit (Sam), of Vevay, IN. Mary was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother, Gilbert Walston.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 27th, 2025 at the Rising Sun Church of Christ with Shane White and Eldon Fancher officiating. Visitation will be held 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 27th at the Rising Sun Church of Christ. Burial will be at Rising Sun New Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Rising Sun Church of Christ or Loving Hearts Hospice.

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