MARYLAND, Nov. 20 – Mary Lusby Spates, 88, of Kensington, MD, died Sunday, November 16, 2003.

She was born May 26, 1915 in Washington, DC. She was married to William R. Spates, Sr. for 59 years. He died in April 1994. Her eldest son, William R Spates, Jr., was killed in action in Viet Nam in 1965. The Community Center at Fort Myer is named in his honor, an honor which the family is proud.

Mrs. Spates was awarded a full scholarship to Holy Cross at Dunbarton Oaks in Washington, DC and graduated in 1932. She graduated in 1935 from Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University along with her husband. She was admitted to the US District Court for the District of Columbia in October 1936 and until her death was a member of the DC Bar. She entered the federal work force in 1956 and retired from the Internal Revenue Service in the early 1980s. As an attorney for the IRS, she specialized in employment tax law and was admitted and qualified as an attorney and counselor for the US Supreme Court.

Mrs. Spates was very active in the Lions Club of Silver Spring and associated fund raising activities and was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellows Award in recognition of her work. She was an honorary and active member of the Society of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery.

She is survived by five children, Margaret Anne Byme of Daly City, CA, James J. Spates of Frederick, MD, Michael F. Spates of Brookeville, MD, Gerald J. Spates of Farmville and Mary Catherine “Cissy” VanSickle of McHenry, MD; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and her sister, Sister Margaret Lusby of CSC of Holy Cross Convent, Kensington, MD. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Ruth H. Lusby and Eileen B. Lusby

The funeral service will be held Thursday, November 20.

Collins Funeral Home, Silver Spring, MD, is in charge of arrangements.