Folsom Funeral Service

Mary “Whit” Soule, of Fox Hill Village in Westwood, died peacefully on April 23, 2010, at home surrounded by her family. She was a longtime resident of Dedham, and the beloved wife of her husband of over 60 years, the late Augustus W. Soule, Jr. She met her future husband in 1945 on a blind double date in Washington, D.C. where he was stationed in the Army and she was working at the Pentagon. They were married in 1947 and moved to Dedham, where they raised their three children.

She was always willing to make a difference becoming involved with many groups and activities. Whit was an elected Member of the Dedham Town Meeting for many decades. She was active in the Dedham League of Women Voters in the 1960’s and 1970’s and served as President of that organization for many years. She also was active in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for over 60 years, during which time, she served on just about every committee that they had.

She loved the water, having grown up along the banks of the Delaware River across from Philadelphia in Riverton, New Jersey, and having spent her early summers at Brant Beach on the New Jersey shore. After she married, she spent many summers in Duxbury, where her husband’s family had a home. She was an avid swimmer to the very end and was always looking for her next chance to swim.

This love of the water no doubt led to her early involvement with the Charles River Watershed Association, a group formed “to protect, preserve and enhance the Charles River and its watershed”. She served in a variety of positions for the CWRA, including as its President. She worked tirelessly to help clean up the Charles River and could always be seen at their annual river swim, as well as the Run of the Charles, helping to promote the progress being made.

She served for many years on the Dedham Conservation Commission where she continued to be a champion for the environment. She would often be found in tall boots wading through meadows and wetlands as she examined various sites slated for development, to make sure that adequate safeguards were in place for their protection. She was instrumental in keeping many of Dedham’s open spaces in their natural state, including what is now the Wilson Mountain Reservation.

Whit loved Wellesley College from where she had graduated in 1943 and remained active in her class, attending her 65th reunion in 2008. She maintained strong friendships with her classmates until her passing. She was also involved for over a half century in numerous local private clubs and groups, including The Afternoon Club of Dedham, The Dedham Lunch Club, and The Sewing Circle. She enjoyed the company of others and was always willing to help whenever a need arose.

She loved to travel with her late husband and had visited almost every corner of the globe. She was an avid gardener and her backyard in Dedham was an oasis of colors and scents every year. Whit enjoyed playing tennis. Her almost six foot tall frame reaching for a shot was a common sight at the Dedham Country and Polo Club, where she was a longtime member and enjoyed a weekly game with her friends until she was well into her seventies.

She was a lovely lady whom everyone adored and respected. She was very bright and had a way of seeing through the clutter to make decisions easily. As her Parkinson’s disease progressed over the last several years, she remained determined not be defeated by it. She continued to enjoy her time with friends and family and was a pillar of strength and courage throughout her almost twenty year battle with the disease. She was very grateful for the kindness shown to her by all of her family, friends, and caregivers.

She is survived by her son, Augustus W. “Gus” Soule, III, and his wife Hannah of Framingham; her daughter, Martha Soule MacDonald, and her husband Gary of Wellesley; and her son, Robert G. “Bob” Soule, and his wife Maura of Westwood. She also leaves five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Burial will be private. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 11:00 AM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 59 Court Street, Dedham. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY, 10008-0780.

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