Mary E Salmon

Mary E. Salmon, 85, passed away suddenly on Monday, March 13, 2023, at Copper Trace Senior Living. Beth was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Charles and Mary Margaret Miller Wright, her older sister Dr. Ruth Anna Wright Browning, her younger sister Clara Mae Wright, and her younger brother Charles Edwin Wright.

Beth, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1937. She attended School 91 and graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 1955 after which she attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, graduating in 1959. She went on to Purdue University where she earned a double Master’s Degree in History and Political Science. Beth enjoyed her summers taking Summer courses at Columbia University as well as the University of Hawaii. Beth was accepted to the London School of Economics and chose to forgo her admission to begin a long and dedicated career in public school teaching. She began teaching in the Indianapolis Public Schools while completing her professional career at North Central High School where she taught until her retirement in 1987.

She was baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church spending her childhood and young adulthood at Bellaire United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. The Methodist Youth Fellowship was very important to Beth as well as many of her friends with whom she maintained close friendships with until her death. Each summer she spent time at Rivervale Church Camp enjoying a reunion with some of her former counselors in 1995.

Beth was a fabulously talented musician playing her beloved Steinway piano, the marimba, and the vibraharp for many years. She played for countless events in the community and was the organist at both St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and Union Chapel United Methodist Church. In her free time, Beth loved to travel and has toured all over the world taking part in leading tours abroad for students and adults. In addition to her many musical gifts, she was an avid reader and instilled the love of reading and learning with her countless students through the years.

Beth is survived by her husband, Wayne Salmon, her daughter Kathy Washburn (Steve) of Indianapolis, Indiana, and her son Jeff Salmon (Linda) and four granddaughters Stephanie Washburn Mitsch (Jeff) and Caroline Washburn both of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Allison and Amber Salmon of Glenview, Illinois.

Her passing leaves us with heavy hearts but we are comforted by the knowledge that she now rests in peace in her eternal home with our Lord Jesus. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Beth’s name to the Dr. Ruth Anna Wright Browning Memorial Scholarship Fund at Earlham College 801 National Rd West, Richmond, IN 47374, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741.