Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mary Anne Dalton |
| Born | December 24, 1932 |
| Birthplace | Dearborn, Michigan, USA |
| Heritage | Irish-Catholic; eldest of seven siblings |
| Parents | Walter M. Dalton and Anne M. Bresnahan |
| Education | Bowling Green State University (Ohio) |
| Early Pursuits | Member of a singing and dancing troupe entertaining U.S. troops overseas |
| Known For | First wife of comedian Tim Conway; mother of six |
| Marriage | Tim Conway (May 27, 1961 – 1978; divorced) |
| Children | Six: Kelly, Tim Jr. (b. October 13, 1963), Patrick, Jamie, Corey, Seann (also seen as Shawn) |
| Later Residence | Lived privately; later years in Ontario, Canada |
| Died | October 13, 2005, in Chatham, Ontario, Canada (age 72) |
| Final Disposition | Cremated |
Early Life: Foundations of Faith and Family
Born on Christmas Eve in 1932, Mary Anne Dalton grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, at a time when American industry was reshaping the nation and large families were anchors in turbulent economic waters. The eldest of seven, she was raised in a devout Irish-Catholic household by Walter M. Dalton and Anne M. Bresnahan. This upbringing—a blend of discipline, devotion, and humor—would later shape how she navigated the intensity of Hollywood’s orbit while maintaining a grounded home.
Her early years were marked by the rhythms of church life and the bustle of a big family. Responsibility came early, as it often does to firstborns. Those habits—steady hands, quiet leadership—became the defining threads of her adult life.
College Years and a Fateful Meeting
Dalton attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where she crossed paths with a fellow student named Thomas Daniel “Tim” Conway. Before he became a comedic icon, he was a shy, quick-witted young man on the cusp of discovering his voice. Their connection began on campus, the kind of ordinary beginning that becomes extraordinary only in hindsight. The friendship developed into a courtship, and after college their paths converged for good.
A Brief Turn on the Stage
Before marriage, Dalton took a brief but spirited detour into performance, joining a troupe that sang and danced for U.S. service members posted overseas. It was a postwar-era calling—part morale, part show business, all heart. While few records detail her itinerary, the experience hints at a woman both adventurous and service-minded, comfortable under lights even if she never courted celebrity.
Marriage to Tim Conway and the Making of a Family (1961–1978)
On May 27, 1961, Mary Anne Dalton married Tim Conway, just as his career began to crest. The 1960s and 1970s brought Conway’s breakout turns on McHale’s Navy and his legendary sketches on The Carol Burnett Show, while at home Dalton was orchestrating a different kind of production: a family of eight.
They welcomed six children—one daughter and five sons—and built a life that balanced studio schedules with school days and family dinners. Daughter Kelly became the family’s chronicler in later years, occasionally sharing glimpses of home life; sons Tim Jr. (born October 13, 1963), Patrick, Jamie, Corey, and Seann (sometimes recorded as Shawn) grew up largely out of the public eye. A noted granddaughter, Sophia Conway, is part of the family tree, though public details about her are minimal.
Despite the demands of Hollywood, Dalton protected the family’s privacy. She was the steady keel beneath a fast-moving ship, the one who made the extraordinary feel ordinary. Her role was not a footnote to fame; it was the scaffolding that supported it.
Family Snapshot
| Name | Relation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Conway (1933–2019) | Spouse (1961–1978) | Comedian and actor; later married Charlene Fusco (1984) |
| Kelly Conway | Daughter | Occasional public reflections on family and her father’s legacy |
| Tim Conway Jr. (b. 10/13/1963) | Son | Media personality in Los Angeles; maintained a lower public profile than his father |
| Patrick Conway | Son | Largely private life |
| Jamie Conway | Son | Largely private life |
| Corey Conway | Son | Largely private life |
| Seann (Shawn) Conway | Son | Largely private life |
| Sophia Conway | Granddaughter | Public details are sparse |
The Crossroads: Divorce and a Life Out of View
In 1978, after 18 years of marriage, Dalton and Conway divorced. The split’s tone, at least in public, was subdued—no headlines, no spectacle. The likely culprits were the familiar strains of time, distance, and a booming career. Dalton chose quiet paths thereafter. She did not remarry publicly, nor did she pursue visibility in entertainment or media. At some point, she relocated to Ontario, Canada, where her later years unfolded far from cameras.
On October 13, 2005, she died in Chatham, Ontario, at 72. She was cremated, and remembrances emphasized her devotion to family and her defining place in the Conway household’s earliest, most formative decades.
Timeline: Key Dates and Milestones
| Year/Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 24, 1932 | Born in Dearborn, Michigan |
| 1940s–1950s | Raised in an Irish-Catholic family; eldest of seven |
| Early–Mid 1950s | Attended Bowling Green State University; met Tim Conway |
| Mid-1950s | Performed with a troupe for U.S. troops overseas |
| May 27, 1961 | Married Tim Conway |
| October 13, 1963 | Son Tim Conway Jr. born |
| 1960s–1970s | Raised six children as Conway’s TV career rose |
| 1978 | Divorced from Tim Conway |
| 1978–2005 | Lived privately; later years in Ontario, Canada |
| October 13, 2005 | Died in Chatham, Ontario; cremated |
A Private Legacy: The Quiet Center of a Public Story
Not every life is measured in awards or headlines. Dalton’s legacy is the kind that resists bullet points: the texture of a home, the choreography of a large family, the sound of laughter drifting from a TV studio into a living room where homework still had to be done. Her contributions were domestic but not small; they were the ground on which a celebrated career found balance.
Financial and professional details beyond her early performance years are largely undocumented, a reflection of the private choices she made. There are no recent media updates, and in the digital age’s constant churn of timelines and feeds, her story remains anchored in the mid-century values that formed it: faith, family, and the quiet courage to live well outside the spotlight.
Numbers at a Glance
- 1 marriage (1961–1978)
- 6 children (1 daughter, 5 sons)
- 7 siblings in her family of origin (she was the eldest)
- 72 years of life (1932–2005)
- 18 years of marriage to Tim Conway
FAQ
Who was Mary Anne Dalton?
She was the first wife of comedian Tim Conway and the mother of their six children, known for her private, family-centered life.
When and where was Mary Anne Dalton born?
She was born on December 24, 1932, in Dearborn, Michigan.
How many children did she have?
She had six children: one daughter, Kelly, and five sons—Tim Jr., Patrick, Jamie, Corey, and Seann (also seen as Shawn).
Did Mary Anne Dalton have a public career?
Beyond a brief stint performing for U.S. troops after college, she did not maintain a public-facing career.
When did she marry and divorce Tim Conway?
They married on May 27, 1961, and divorced in 1978 after 18 years.
Where did she live later in life?
She spent her later years in Ontario, Canada, living quietly away from public view.
When did Mary Anne Dalton die?
She died on October 13, 2005, in Chatham, Ontario, at the age of 72.
Is there recent news about her?
No; as she passed away in 2005, mentions of her today are mostly historical and family-related.
Did she remarry after divorcing Tim Conway?
There are no public records indicating that she remarried.
What is known about her granddaughter Sophia Conway?
Sophia is noted as a granddaughter, but publicly available details about her are limited.
