Mary Jane Carlton

DELMAR - Mary Jane Carlton, 95, passed away at the Eddy Village Green in Cohoes on Monday, January 23, 2017. Born Mary Jane McDonald on January 28, 1921, in Gary, Indiana, to James Francis McDonald and Grace Amelia (Menninger) McDonald, Mary Jane graduated from Horace Mann Grammar School in Chicago, Illinois, in 1936 and from Horace Mann High School in Gary, Indiana, in 1939. In 1941, she moved with her family to Joliet, Illinois, and took a job there working as a civilian for the US Navy. She met Edward Carlton at a USO dance when he was in transit from Navy SeaBee boot camp in Rhode Island to his wartime assignment in Point Barrow, Alaska. Ed got Mary Jane's phone number at the dance and called her afterwards to ask her on a date. "Is Rosemary there?" he asked. Mary Jane hung up the phone repeatedly saying "Nobody named Rosemary lives here." Ed finally said in desperation, "I don't care what your name is, I'm running out of change, will you go out with me?" Needless to say, Mary Jane did agree to go out with Ed. They corresponded during the war, and married in 1946 after Ed was honorably discharged from the Navy. Mary Jane and Ed lived in the Chicago area for several years, where they raised their two sons, Malcolm and McDonald. In 1962, Ed took a promotion and moved the family to Delmar, NY. For the next 51 years. Mary Jane was a house-wife and the family peace keeper, while Ed worked for the federal government. Mary Jane and Ed were 51-year communicants of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Delmar and enjoyed 64 years of marriage until Edward's death in 2013. Mary Jane was a championship bridge player, an avid golfer who made a hole in one, a bit unnerving for Ed who was an avid golfer but never made a hole in one. Mary Jane was a loving mother, a faithful friend, and a loyal wife who provided unceasing care for her husband after he lost his sight to macular degeneration. In 2013, Mary Jane and Ed moved to Delmar Place. In 2015, Mary Jane moved to Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center and then to Eddy Village Green, in Cohoes. Predeceased by her son Malcolm, and her husband Edward, Mary Jane is survived by her son McDonald and his wife Kathleen; her grandson Ian and his wife Teresa; her two great grandchildren Elizabeth and Lily and her nephew James McDonald and his wife Michelle Arsenault. The Carlton family would like to express their thanks for the kindness and caring of the staff at St. Peter's Eddy Village Green. A memorial service will be held 2 pm Monday, February 6, 2017 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 16 Elsmere Ave., Delmar. Those wishing to remember Mary Jane in a special way may send contributions to the Dr. Harry M. Judge Low Vision Rehabilitation Center at the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany; 301 Washington Avenue; Albany, NY 12206.