Mary Ann Bungerz, 96, former executive director of the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, died April 16, 2024. She was the wife of the late Karl Bungerz Jr. for nearly 60 years before his death in August of 2008. Born in Joplin, Mo., she was the youngest of three daughters born to James L. and Katherine May (Harley) Skaggs.

Residing in Macungie, she had lived with her family for almost 40 years at Wehr’s Dam, South Whitehall Township.

She was the valedictorian of her 1946 class of Chestertown (Maryland) High School where she received the Reader’s Digest high academic scholarship. Her college choice was Washington College, Chestertown, Md. After her parents relocated to a large farm in Lyon Valley, near New Tripoli, she attended Cedar Crest College.

Along with her close friend Ruth Kemp, she owned and operated Personal Tours, a booking agency for visitors and conventions coming to this and the surrounding areas of Pennsylvania. In 1985, she became the executive director of the Lehigh County Tourist and Convention Bureau. Under her leadership, the bureau grew rapidly and finally merged with Northampton County to become known as what is now the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.

While at the bureau, she received many mayoral, governmental and presidential certificates and accolades regarding national and local tourism. She was one of the organizers and a charter member of the South Whitehall Township Parks and Recreation Board, hence The Mary Ann Bungerz Pavilion at Wehr’s Dam Park.

She was a longtime board member of the Miss Pennsylvania pageant and an associate board member of Muhlenberg College. In her later years, her last board involvement was with Four Seasons at Farmington in Macungie where she resided.

Of all her involvements, perhaps her favorite was the Junior Aides of the Allentown Hospital, where she also had been past president. This old organization later merged with the Lehigh Valley Hospital Auxiliary where she was recording secretary for many years.

She was a 75-year member of First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. Of all her accomplishments, she was most proud of being married in the old church by the late Rev. Dr. Walter H. Eastwood and that he baptized all four of her children.

She is survived by friend and former caregiver Peninah “Penny” Olal; son, Robert A. and his partner, Allen Brandstein, of Allentown and San Francisco; two grandsons; three granddaughters. She was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Elizabeth; sons, Karl Stephen and James Sterling; sisters, Katherine Louise Elison, Frances G. Stearns; cousin (as a brother) Donald Lee Harley.

Contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Allentown or Lehigh Valley Health Network, memo line: Reilly Children’s Hospital and mailed c/o the funeral home. Arrangements were made by the Trexler Funeral Home, 1625 W. Highland St., Allentown, 18102.