Mary Ann and Harry Wainwright
May 11, 1933 – December 10 2023
A native of Sharon, PA, Mary Ann was the daughter of the late Merle Edward and Wilta Marie Haggerty Simpson. Mary Ann was a former Training Inc. Program Director with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, IL. She traveled extensively with her husband, teaching people the skills needed to improve their lives and the lives of others. Mary Ann was a very skilled organist and choir director and wanted to be remembered for her love of music and for the natural world.
Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 59 years, Harry Wainwright; two sons, John Wesley Wainwright and his companion, Cathy Elliott, and Thomas Drew Wainwright and his wife, Valerie; two grandchildren, John Michael Wainwright and Matthew Wainwright. She is also survived by a brother, Robert Simpson and his wife, Jean, and was preceded in death by another brother, Jack Simpson.
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Back story: Harry & MaryAnn Wainwright and Bill & Marianna Bailey moved into adjacent homes in Asheville back in the twentieth century. Harry was the last survivor of these dynamic duos. Marianna died in 2020, Bill in 2017, & MaryAnn in 2015. The Baileys had moved to Deerfield, while the Wainwrights moved to Ardenwoods. I recall attending MaryAnn’s memorial service with Lingo at the Jubilee! Community.
Earlier I squoze into the jump-seat of the Fishels’ truck to ride from Lake Junaluska to Deerfield to enjoy lunch with these six old colleagues. And I enjoyed cohosting the Springboard III gathering at the Lake in late 2007, including the Wainwrights, Baileys, Crockers, Grows, Gilles, Walters, Stovers, Binghams, Cocks, McCleskey, Gordon Harper, George West, David Scott, Jean Long, and Herman Greene, among 40 colleagues (some of whom are have faded from my failing memory).
~~ Marshall Jones
My memory of the Wainwrights was of Harry (at the Jabalpur and Addis Ababa ITIs) and Harry and Mary Ann (at the Jeju HDP Consult).
Harry was a consummate attender to detail. If my fading memory serves me at all, Harry landed in Jabalpur to help our teaching team present the latest product of Chicago Summer 1971’s Research Assembly, the Local Church Experiment documents. For some reason key documents did not arrive in advance as planned, and Kaye Hayes and I were “seconded” (love that term) to be emergency typists of the one extant copy of the documents which Harry carried with him to India. Not an easy task. Can’t recall when the intended originals arrived — if they did at all. But Slicker, the Dean, made it all work somehow, after sending a telegram back to Chicago saying “May Day, May Day!”— as only Slicker would know to alert JWM. Harry continued with the teaching team to Ethiopia where he brought his pedagogy prowess as well as “printing technical expertise” from his local church pastoral experience (anyone remember the ancient Gestetner gooey black ink printers?).
In Seoul, MaryAnn was the quintessential gracious hostess to the Consult team. Her gentle style and amazing smile softened what was a challenging task — selecting a village BEFORE the scheduled consult was about to begin. Harry was “the General” (one of our 5 Exemplars as you may recall) over-seeing the “frame” (both political and religious) and the details (pre-Consult, Consult and document writing) of the Jeju HDP Plan. I remember him joining our breakfast table in Seoul saying, “Heavy troop movement last night.” I’m sure that was a reality he and the Seoul RH lived with every day.
I am deeply grateful for this missional family, models of intentional service for Joe and me.
~~ Marilyn Crocker
Harry Wainwright Jr, 90, of Arden, NC, passed away on December 10, 2023. He was born on May 11, 1933, in Greensburg, PA, to Harry Wainwright Sr and Dorothy Stiener-Wainwright. Harry was preceded in death by his beloved wife, MaryAnn Simpson-Wainwright, his father, his mother and his sister, Betty K Hobaugh.
Harry led a remarkable life filled with diverse experiences and accomplishments. After graduating from high school, he served with honor in the US Coast Guard during the Korean war. Then he attended the Missouri School of Science and Technology. Harry then pursued his passion for spirituality, graduating from the Drew University School of Divinity and became a Methodist minister. He worked for a time at the Heinz Ketchup company and then he faithfully served as a pastor in Edinboro, PA.
In 1966, Harry and MaryAnn relocated to Chicago, IL and joined the staff of the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), during their 16-year tenure, they were posted to ICA locations in India, Korea, San Francisco and Chicago where they assisted local leaders to design and implement community based social and economic development projects.
Additionally, Harry worked in the computer industry for the Unisys Corporation, showcasing his versatile skills and adaptability. Upon retirement Harry and MaryAnn relocated to Asheville, NC.
Harry will be remembered for his loving and devoted nature. He was married to MaryAnn Wainwright for 59 years until her passing in 2015. Together, they built a beautiful family and shared countless cherished memories. Harry is survived by his brother, James Wainwright; and two sons, John Wesley Wainwright and his wife Cathy, Thomas Drew Wainwright and his wife Valerie; two grandchildren, John Michael Wainwright and Matthew Alexander Wainwright.
Harry Wainwright Jr’s passing leaves a void in the lives of those who knew and loved him. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy of compassion, dedication, and adventure will forever be cherished by his family and friends. May he rest in eternal peace.
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Sharing grief and gratitude with Harry’s family. Harry and dear Mary Ann were with our family in Chicago, Seoul, and Asheville.
~~ Robertson Work
I remember Harry as very helpful and good natured in various religious houses. He and Mary Ann were always welcoming when we stopped in Asheville on the long trek to visit family in South Carolina. He will be missed. I assumed we would pass through again and have one more interesting conversation. Very sorry to have missed him,
~~ Mary Laura Jones
Dear All, Harry and MaryAnn were the San Francisco House Priors when Linda and I joined the Order. Harry ran a great ship with a wild, unwieldy crew. My condolences to the family.
~~ Dick Alton
My heart felt condolences to the Wainwright family. Ms. Wainwright was that person who embraced me at the Training Inc. YMCA training school in Chicago on Michigan Ave. She was my business teacher and gave me life skills for employment today. Because of her teaching me administrative office skills, I worked in corporate companies for many years.
You are my role model and mentor. Love you for giving me that fish that I eat every day
~~ Robin McPherson