Mary Alice Ladwig

Mary Alice Ladwig, a deeply beloved wife, mother, and friend, passed away on May 7, 2025 at the age of 72. Born on June 30, 1952, in Biloxi, Mississippi, Mary Alice’s life was marked by her passion for God, love for others, and her joyful enthusiasm for life.

Growing up in a military family that was always on the move (but most often in Colorado), Mary Alice developed a taste for adventure and a talent for making new friends wherever she went. She became a Christian when she was 16 years old and eventually helped lead the rest of her family to Christ, including her parents and sister Linda. After graduating from CU Boulder in 1974 with a B.A. in theatre and communication, she headed west to San Diego to join Lamb’s Players, a Christian street theatre troupe. She worked there until her marriage to Barry Ladwig in 1981. Soon after, she became an incredible mom to Benji and eventually Bonnie.

Mary Alice homeschooled Bonnie for 13 years and then attended SDSU to earn her Master’s degree in Communications. She then taught communication at SDSU and San Diego Christian College for several years before her retirement.

Beyond her teaching, Mary Alice was known for her love, enthusiasm, curiosity, and joy, even in the midst of physical suffering. She invested deeply in the lives of others, especially her family, and she treasured God’s Word and often led others in Bible study and prayer. She loved pursuing adventure, whether it involved a zip line, a black diamond ski slope, or cross-country cycling trips with her family.

In 2014, Mary Alice joyously became a grandma to Josiah, and to Vincent in 2017. She savored every moment with her grandsons. While she was “the spirit of a Ferrari in the body of a Pinto,” she never stopped giving of herself for the benefit of others in any way she could. She was an amazing ray of sunshine and will be dearly missed.