Mary Dalton Thomson

Mary Dalton Thomson, 89, of Dahlgren, Virginia, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2021.

Mary was born February 20, 1932, in Asheville, North Carolina, to John Baxter Dalton and Vista Cosby Edwards Dalton. After high school graduation, she and her twin sister Martha left Asheville to seek new adventures in Washington, DC, taking jobs with the Bureau of Ordnance for the Department of the Navy.  It was in DC that she met the love of her life, John. After they were married, John and Mary lived in New York and then later moved to Alexandria, Virginia.  They then moved to Dahlgren, Virginia, where John took a job as an Engineering Technician at what is now known as Naval Surface Warfare Center.

 Even while raising five children, Mary was never one to sit still.  She had many jobs including administrative roles at Potomac Elementary School and the Travel Department on the naval base, and later as Access Control Clerk with Tatitlek Corporation. Even though she worked full time, her family is still amazed to this day how she meticulously maintained the family home, cooked full meals for seven people or more, and attended as many of her children’s activities as possible.

Mary was an active member of Oakland Baptist Church where she made many lifelong friendships. More than anything, Mary was a mother through and through. She loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren and she especially loved taking the annual family Thanksgiving trips to Asheville and the Labor Day beach trips with her kids and grandkids.   Mary’s friends and neighbors were her family as well and she loved them all. She loved her traditions, such as Christmas Eve with the Novell family and leftover nights with the Morrissette’s.  She loved to travel and make special memories on trips to the Bahamas, island cruises, visiting family in California, and more.    

Mary is survived by her children John “Tad” Thomson (Susan), Mary Kay Stensvad (Torrey), Bonnie Knight (Rusty), Robert Thomson, and Kerry Trenor (Mark); her grandchildren Katie Jahann (Darius), Keith Hartman (Jen), Caroline Rae, Lee Hartman, Holly Thomson, Kevin Thomson, Ellie Dent (Cody), Colin Knight, Allison Trenor, and Joseph Knight; her great-grandchildren George and Dorothy Hartman and Andy Jahann; her sister Dorothy Lamson; and many nephews and nieces.  Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, John Richard Thomson, her parents, John and Vista Dalton, her brothers James Dalton, John Dalton and Robert Dalton and sisters Martha Lakenan and Louise Haigler.

Special thanks to the caregivers at Paramount Senior Living, the wonderful ladies at Fresenius Kidney Care in Fredericksburg, and her amazing neighbors who were always there for her and continue to be.

Mary’s wishes were to be cremated, and the family will schedule a memorial for a later date to celebrate the lives of both Mary and John.