Mary Helen Dando

Mary Helen (Allen) Dando, age 95, died June 16, 2023, at Centerville Health and Rehab surrounded by her family. Mary was born April 18, 1928, in Dayton, Ohio, to the late Ralph Stewart Allen and Nettie Lareta (Campbell) Allen.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by siblings Mildred Carson Brown, Ralph Allen Jr., Dottie Ann Corrigan, and Lareta Kiser; and by grandson Cole Evan Dando, and great-grandchildren Isaiah Michael Spirito, and Kelsey Noel Spirito.

She is survived by her brothers Robert Allen and Bryant Allen; daughters Toni (Glynn) McNaughton of Kettering, and Kim (Emsy) Little of Beavercreek, and sons James (Teckla) Dando of Troy, Scott (Willy) Dando of Clayton, and Dana (Sherri) Dando of Englewood.

Mary is also survived by 6 grandchildren: John (Jessica) Dando of York, SC, Brittney (Carmen Clouse) Spirito of Tipp City, Andy (Michelle) Eikenberry of West Carrollton, Jenny (Chris) Smith of Lakeview, OH, Jeffrey (Sally) Little of Dayton, and Ainsley (Chris) Rawlings of Haifa, Israel; and by 8 great-grandchildren: Zachary Clouse, Stephen Little, KirstIn and Seth Smith, Kaiden Dando, and Lupita, Zelie, and Elias Rawlings, and other relatives and friends.

Mary graduated from Roosevelt High School in Dayton in 1946. She and James A. Dando, Sr. met when they both worked at Rike’s Department Store in downtown Dayton. They were married in 1949 and divorced in 1963. James Sr. died in 1986.Mary was a social worker with Family Services Association of Dayton, and a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Dayton, and Hope Lutheran Church, Dayton.

Services will be at Tobias Funeral Home, 648 Watervliet Ave, Dayton, on July 1, 2023. Visitation with the family will be 10:00 a.m. to 11:00. A Memorial Service will begin at 11:00, with burial following at Riverside Cemetery in Troy.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Day City Hospice or the charity of your choice.