Mrs. Mary Lou Renner

Mary Lou Renner COLUMBIA - Mary Lou Renner, wife of the late Major General John A. Renner, United States Army (retired), former Commanding General of Fort Jackson, joined her husband in heaven on May 26, 2011, where they will dwell in the Lord’s house, together forever. Mary Lou lived a wonderful life filled with service to God and her family. She fought the good fight, she finished the race, she kept the faith. Mary Lou was born in Tucson, Arizona on June 5, 1940, the second daughter of Bernice and Bryan (Bud) Doolen. She grew up in Tucson, Arizona where, in her Catalina High School days, she was the head cheerleader, a tennis athlete and a scholar. Tall and elegant, Mary Lou also worked as a professional model and was crowned “Torch Queen� by Tennesee Ernie Ford in her senior year at Catalina. A classmate wrote in her yearbook, “to the most popular and the prettiest girl in the school.� Mary Lou attended the University of Arizona and joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority where she made lifelong friends. She graduated with a degree in primary education and enjoyed teaching part time when her children grew to school age. It was at the University that Mary Lou met the love of her life, the tall, handsome and athletic John Renner, who played tight end for the Arizona Wildcats. Like a storybook where the football hero marries the homecoming queen, the two began a romance that lasted over 50 years and took them through what Mary Lou described as the “adventure of a lifetime,� as John’s military career took them all over the world. John’s Army career spanned three decades and he often attributed his career success to his loyal and devoted wife. Mary Lou faithfully waited through his two tours in Vietnam with two tiny babies to care for. She shined his boots, polished his buckles, wrote his speeches, and was a gracious hostess to their army friends. Her social entertaining skill would make Martha Stewart envious. Mary Lou enjoyed volunteering with the Army Community Service and with the “Arlington Ladies� at Arlington Cemetery. John and Mary Lou fell in love with Columbia, South Carolina, during John’s tour as Commanding General of Fort Jackson. They decided to retire to Columbia in 1994 to make the city their home. Though John retired, Mary Lou continued working by volunteering in the community she so loved, and working part time as a “Boutique Lady� at Steinmart and as Wedding Coordinator at Northeast Presbyterian Church. Her community service work included service on the Sickle Cell Anemia Board of Directors and membership in the Retired Officers Wives Club, the Columbia Symphony League, the Spring Valley Garden Club, and the P.E.O. Sorority. Mary Lou was active in the Northeast Presbyterian Church where she belonged to the Good News Sunday School Class. She enjoyed competing on the Wildwood Tennis Team and continued to be a cheerleader for John as he golfed, played tennis, and fished. Mary Lou also enjoyed quietly reading by her fireplace and gardening in her beautiful yard by the lake behind her home. Mary Lou was a poised and graceful lady. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish to celebrate and honor Mary Lou’s life are encouraged to give to the charity of their choice. The Spring Valley Rotary Club Gift of Life was one of Mary Lou’s favorite causes as were the Columbia Museum and Symphony. Mary Lou is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Heather Mary Ligon and Col. John Robert Ligon and her one and only grandson, John Clayton Ligon; her daughter and son-in-law, Renner Jo Eberlein and Capt. Scott Allen Eberlein; her sister, Joanne Montgomery; and her brother, Buddy Doolen. A memorial service will be held at Northeast Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at 12:30 in the afternoon. Mary Lou’s burial service will take place in the Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 2:00 in the afternoon. Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, is assisting the family.