Mary Jo Champion passed away on August 21, 2019 after an extended illness.

Services will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, August 24, 2019 in the Chapel of Townsend Brothers Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at 1:00PM until funeral hour at the funeral home. Committal will be private.

Mary Jo was born in Belleville, Illinois on December 1, 1952. She was a graduate of Geneva High School, Class of 1970, in Geneva, New York. On January 19, 1973 Mary, married James A. Champion, also from Geneva, New York. James was a young soldier just beginning his military career and on orders for Germany. That was the start of Mary's career as a military wife.

Mary supported James in his military career, which culminated with the rank of Sergeant First Class after 21 years of service. Mary also had her own career as a military wife. She was a Federal Civil Service civilian employee. While stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, Mary worked for Fifth Corps Headquarters and the Commander of the US Hospital. She also worked at the VA Hospital in Brooklyn, New York until James retired. She continued her service with the Veterans Administration and was transferred to the VA Hospital in Decatur, Georgia. Mary then transferred to the Carl Vinson VA Hospital in Dublin, Georgia, where she worked until her retirement. Mary was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Mary Sroka; sister, Ann Banks, and brother, John Sroka. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, James; daughters, Olivia and Alexa Champion; grandchildren, Ava Smith and Arthur Howell; brothers, Joseph and Martha Sroka, Elmer and Caren Sroka, and Frank Sroka; nephews,  Joseph Sroka and Joseph Cook, and nieces, Cortney Sroka and Stephanie Sroka.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to St. Jude Children's Hospital at www. stjude.org.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/