Obituary: Mary Venable

Mary “Polly” Tate Venable, age 88, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. 

She was the daughter of the late Dr. Alan E. and Mary E. (Stover) Smith.

Polly is survived by her son Robert David Tate, her daughter Kathryn “Cricket” Forrest Tate and her husband Daryl Webb; grandson Bailey Keyes Tate; cousins Mina Jane Grothey and Lynn Stinson Trout, and her beloved cat Fuzzy Peshak.

Polly was born in York, Pennsylvania, but she lived all over the world from Shaker Heights, Ohio and Rome, New York to Japan, Denmark and New Zealand. 

She most recently resided with her daughter and son-in-law. Polly was a United States Air Force Veteran serving from 1959-1962. She was a Second Lieutenant, family service officer and a general’s aide.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Western College for Women, which is now part of Miami University. She later received her master’s in education administration. Polly worked as a graduate advisor at SUNY, Bingham, New York until her retirement.

She was a longtime member of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Parkton, Maryland, where she served on the vestry and actively participated in the annual Holiday Fest.

Polly enjoyed traveling the world, knitting, quilting and embroidery art.

She also loved Rock and Roll and thoroughly enjoyed attending Rock concerts with her son, some of which included The Who, Styx, AC/DC and many more.

Family and Friends are invited to a memorial service which will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. James’ Episcopal Church, 19200 York Rd., Parkton, Maryland 21120.

This obituary was originally published by Hartenstein Funeral and Cremation Care and has been edited for length.