Mary Wimberly Anderson Franz

1936 - 2017

Mary Wimberly Anderson (Szlasa) Franz, 80

Mary Franz passed away from lung cancer on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy as a prominent business owner and beloved sister, wife, mother and friend.

Born on March 25,1936 and raised on Wimberly Farms in Princess Anne, MD, Mary Wimberly Anderson was daughter to the late Howard H. Anderson and Elsie B. Anderson.



Mary Wimberly Anderson earned a Senatorial Scholarship to the University of Maryland, where she double majored in English and History, graduating with honors in 1958. In 1960, she married her college sweetheart, Richard (Dick) E. Szlasa.

After starting her career as a public school teacher at Bladensburg High School, Mary went on to be an agent of change as a small business owner. In the 1970's, she created Walker Mountain Crafts clothing company, based in Deerfield, VA. Her business empowered rural women in Augusta County, VA to earn their own livelihood.

As her husband's success as a lacrosse coach grew, Mary focused on her roles as wife and mother. Lacrosse took the family from Towson (State) University in Towson, MD, to Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA. At W&L, Mary's husband, Dick Szlasa, earned Division III Coach of the Year. From 1972 - 1983, the family called the U.S Naval Academy home as Coach Szlasa led the Middies in unprecedented 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearances. The Szlasa family moved on to Drew University in Madison, NJ, where Mary's husband served as Athletic Director and coached his son, Steve as an All-American. Mary began the groundwork for her next business while managing the busy life of a Hall of Fame coach and three children.

Mary owned The Fudge Factory of Bethany Beach, DE from 1983 to 2001, and moved to Bethany permanently in 1997. Mary was an outspoken advocate for the resort area business community and an active member of Ocean View Presbyterian Church. In 2003, Mary married Dr. Frank M. Franz, Jr. In retirement, Mary served on the board of the South Coastal Public Library and as Secretary for the Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation (QRCF).

Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband, Dr. Frank M. Franz, Jr. in March, 2015 and her parents Howard H. Anderson and Elsie B. Anderson. Mary is survived by one brother, William H. Anderson, his wife Shirley and family, and one sister, Elizabeth B. Anderson, of Princess Anne, MD. Mary is also survived by her three children: Stephen Szlasa and wife Cindy Held-Szlasa of Ocean View, DE, Ann Szlasa-DeMonte and Michael DeMonte of Audubon, PA, and Mary (Mikie) Sarmiento and husband Santiago Sarmiento of Newark, DE, as well as one step-daughter, Greta Franz and her son J. Ryan Sandlin of Wilmington, NC. Four grandchildren were the light of Mary's life: Nathan DeMonte, Jake DeMonte, Drew Szlasa, and Hannah Sarmiento.

A memorial service will be held on March 25, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Ocean View Presbyterian Church, 67 Central Ave, Ocean View, DE 19970. A private interment will be held at a later date.



The family requests that donations be made in memory of Mary A. Franz to the Ocean View Presbyterian Church (address above) or Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation (QRCF Scholarship Fund/Back Our Schools), PO Box 345 Bethany Beach, DE 19930.