MUNCIE - Mary Bird Phillips Lesh, 98, passed away of natural causes Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at Kindred Health Care.

Mary was born in Tampa, Florida on December 27, 1913, the daughter of Lois (Porter) Phillips and Herbert Phillips, U. S. District Attorney.

After high school Mrs. Lesh graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Randolph Macon College in Virginia when it was an all girl's college. During her college years in Virginia she saw snow for the first time.

She was a high school English Teacher and worked in New York and Washington before marrying Charles L. Lesh, a Muncie Attorney for over fifty years. Mrs. Lesh was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, and was a past member of the Lawyers Wives Club.

Survivors included two daughters, Jean Lesh-DeMarco, Virginia, and Lois Lesh, Muncie; two grandchildren, Sarah DeMarco-Hilfer, (husband, Matt), Virginia, and David DeMarco, a graduate student at the U. of Chicago; a great granddaughter, Emma Hilfer, Virginia; and several nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant brother; four sisters, Frances Fortune, Lois Albertson, Myra Phillips, who was her twin, and Portia Folmar.

According to her wishes a cremation will take place.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, Indianapolis, Indiana office, 6415 Castleway West Drive Suite 114, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250, or Sheltie Rescue of Central Indiana (SRCI), P. O. Box 199046 Indianapolis, Indiana 46219.