December 28, 2015
The widow of former Pennsylvania Governor William Warren Scranton has died at the age of 97.
The Associated Press reports that Mary Scranton passed away Saturday at a retirement community in Montecito, California, after battling an illness.
Her husband William Scranton was a descendant of the family that founded the city of Scranton and served as the 38th Governor of the Commonwealth from 1963 to 1967.
A Republican, he was considered a moderate conservative and was pegged to revive the state's GOP Party with his candidacy in the 1962 gubernatorial election in which he defeated Philadelphia Mayor Richardson Dilworth by a large margin.
He also served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Gerald Ford's administration. He died in 2013 as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Mary Scranton led several charitable efforts in Pennsylvania over the course of her life, heading organizations that helped improve the city of Scranton's housing market and aided children suffering from mental health problems.
Current Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued the following statement Monday concerning Mary Scranton's death:
“Frances and I extend our deepest condolences to the entire Scranton family on the passing of their mother and grandmother, Mary. The Scrantons dedicated their lives to service of Pennsylvania and the nation. We thank Mary for her contributions to the commonwealth and wish her family the best during this difficult time”
Wolf has ordered flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff on Sunday, Jan. 3.
