Marilyn Marshall

Marilyn Alma Marshall, a devoted wife, mother and grandmother known for her kind disposition, sweet smile and strong faith in Jesus, died on November 5, 2018—one day shy of her 74th birthday.

Born in Quincy, Illinois, to Warren and Doris Richards, Marilyn was the oldest of three sisters. She grew up in Columbus, Illinois, and graduated from Central High School in Camp Point, Illinois, in 1963.

Her goal was to be a wife and mother, and on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1965, she married Roger Lee Marshall. They were married for 47 years and had four children. The family enjoyed time together, including frequent travel to destinations around the United States.

Her faith developed as a child attending Columbus United Methodist Church and continued throughout her life. The Billy Graham Library in North Carolina, which she visited with her eldest son, Greg Marshall, was one of her favorite and most meaningful travel destinations.

Becoming a grandmother was a source of great joy for Marilyn, and she dearly loved each of her 10 grandchildren, spending time with them, playing games together, talking on the phone, and encouraging them in all their pursuits, such as theater, music, Little League baseball, and academic accomplishments.

Her professional life included working as a clerk typist for 20 years for the County of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures until she retired in 2010. She was recognized twice as the County’s Employee of the Year.

Marilyn’s career before joining the County included serving as the church secretary at El Cajon First United Methodist Church in El Cajon, California; the chaplain’s secretary at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri; and in her first job out of high school, as a bookkeeper for the Quincy Herald-Whig newspaper.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Lee Marshall, on March 9, 2012.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Greg and Colleen Marshall of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Debbie and Kiun Forschen of Tracy, California, Jeff and Rene’e Marshall of Rocklin, California, and Scott and Melanie Marshall of Vista, California; her grandchildren Thomas, Jeffrey, Russell and Daniel Marshall of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Caleb, Emily and Nathan Forschen of Tracy, California, Kyler Mills of Windsor, California, and Grace and Noah Marshall of Vista, California; her sisters Barb Heins of La Belle, Missouri, and Carolyn Zimmerman of Camp Point, Illinois; brother-in-law Melvin Heins of La Belle, Missouri; and seven nieces and their children.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 15, at New Community Church of Vista, 165 Eucalyptus Avenue, Vista, California 92084.

In lieu of flowers, Marilyn requested donations be made to Hospice of the North Coast, 2525 Pio Pico Drive, Suite 301, Carlsbad, CA 92008.