Mary Lou Delahunt, 93 of Galesburg, formerly of rural Avon and Roseville, passed away at 3:43a.m. Friday, April 22, 2022, at St. Joseph Village in Chicago, after a short illness.
She was born March 5, 1929 in Greenbush, Illinois, the daughter of Herman G. Kington and Louise Alexandra “Lou” (Buffington) Kington. The family moved to Avon a few years later where they lived for number of years, before moving to Roseville where she completed high school.
Mary Lou attended MacMurray College for two years, before transferring to the University of Denver to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She sat for, and passed, the CPA exam in 1951, as one of four women passing the exam in Illinois that year. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Chicago to work for Arthur Andersen, & Co. After a few years, she moved to Monmouth to work with Lloyd Stevenson, eventually becoming a partner in Stevenson & Kington CPA firm.
Mary Lou married Charles Robert (“Bob”) Delahunt on December 27, 1965 in Roseville. She retired from public accounting in 1969 to focus on her family and began farming with her husband Bob. They discovered they enjoyed researching their ancestry, which led them to traveling to historic sites in the USA and abroad. Mary Lou was active in numerous local, state, and national genealogy organizations, serving in various leadership positions. She also formed and served as the Institute Director for the Genealogical Institute of Mid America, sponsored by Illinois State Genealogical Society.
Mary Lou was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for over 75 years, serving as the Regent of both the Chief Shaubena (Roseville) and Rebecca Parke (Galesburg) chapters.
Mary Lou was also elected to the Warren County board, serving multiple terms. Mary Lou served as a Director of the Roseville State Bank, and subsequently the Prairieland Bancorp. After moving to the farm, she worked to promote beef production, serving as president of the Tri-County Cattlewomen, and as an officer of the Illinois Cattlewomen. Mary Lou was a retired member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
She is survived by her son, Charles Robert Delahunt II (Cynthia Sanchez), and grand-son Robert. She was preceded in death by her husband Bob, an infant son, Jack K. Delahunt, her parents, and Lorna Lee Adkisson, her sister.
Cremation will be accorded. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2022, at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel, followed by a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. Rev. Jon Prain will officiate. Private burial will be in the Avon Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Mayo Clinic for cancer research. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
