Mary Lou (Pursell) Byden

September 13, 1936 - February 11, 2017
Mary Lou (Pursell) Byden

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Mary Lou Bryden, nee Pursell, died on Saturday, February 11, 2017. She was born on
Sept. 13, 1936, in Philadelphia, PA to Lily Schaeffer Pursell and George Dickson
Pursell, and lived in Fort Washington, PA. She is deeply missed by her husband, Bill,
two sons, Donald Christopher (wife Mimi) and William Scott (wife MiSuk), and two
grandchildren, Sophie and William.

She graduated from Lansdale School of Business and worked locally at First
Pennsylvania Banking & Trust Co. and then at NARCO until her marriage to 2nd Lt.
William Donald Bryden, USAF in August of 1959 in Harlingen, Texas. Mary Lou spent
27 years as a military wife, moving with her husband and two sons to bases all over the
country and to Ascension Island, in the South Atlantic Ocean, volunteering and working
with the Officers’ Wives Club as editor of the newspaper, decorating chairman, and
OWC president. After her husband retired from the Air Force they moved to Maryland and
lived in Gaithersburg for 13 years, where Bill worked for IBM, Loral, and Lockheed Martin.

While on their final military assignment in San Jose, CA, she developed her
artistic talent in designing and building stained glass windows. Before retiring to their
present home in Wilmington in 2000 they lived in England for two years, in London and
in Portsmouth, where Bill negotiated a contract for a new air traffic control center in
Scotland, and where Mary Lou continued her stained-glass work.

From her start in California, Mary Lou developed her love for stained glass, turning it
into a small business. She designed and fabricated over 150 panels and sold them all
over the country, and in England. While living in London, Mary Lou joined the London
Society of Designer Craftsmen. She loved sketching and drawing, but was fascinated
by the stained-glass process, and settled into it with a flourish, donating some of her
work to the Landfall Foundation and to the Wilmington Railroad Museum as well as
decorating her home with six large stained glass windows. Her stained-glass work will remind
us all of her love of the beautiful things in life.

There will be a Celebration of Life for all to join and will be announced in the near future,
and her cremated remains will rest in peace in the Chapel Woods adjacent to the Kenan
Chapel in Landfall. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Wilmington Railroad Museum, the
Making WAVES Foundation, or to the Landfall Foundation will be appreciated.

Please share memories and condolences with the family by clicking on the “Post a Condolence” tab below.

Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S. 41st Street Wilmington NC 28403 910.791.9099


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  • February 16, 2017
    Janet Berta says:
    Bill - So sorry for your loss. Mary Lou was an amazing person who touched many lives. Her memory and stained glass treasures remain to bring joy to all. With Love - Janet Berta

  • February 26, 2017
    Evie Guidotti says:
    Bill, so sad to hear of Mary Lou's passing. We go back many years. She was a great neighbor and friend. May all those wonderful memories sustain you for the hard months ahead. Thoughts and a lot of love for you, Don and Scot.