Marlene Stanford

MARLENE WILLIAMS STANFORD

Iowa City

Marlene Williams Stanford, 88, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed peacefully on Dec. 11, 2021.

She was born Jan. 7, 1933, to Newell and Myrtle Williams in Onawa, Iowa. Marlene graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1955. She was a member of Mortar Board and Alpha Phi Sorority. After graduation, Marlene attended the University of Iowa as a graduate student in physical therapy. There she met William (Bill) Stanford, a medical student and officer in the United States Air Force. They married on Oct. 7, 1956.

Over the years, they had four children, Paul, Peter (twins), Lesley and Timothy. In 1966, they moved to San Antonio, Texas, when Bill was assigned to Lackland Air Force Base. Marlene thought they were going to the end of the earth, but the move turned out to be a good one and they raised their family as "Texans." Marlene loved her time in San Antonio, and volunteered her time supporting symphony and opera programs. She was chairwoman of the San Antonio Symphony Showhouse and assisted with the Children's Concert Volunteer program.

It was important to Marlene that her children were exposed to music and art lessons, museums and concerts. Because the twins were born with hearing deficits, she also became interested in hearing impairment and enrolled as a graduate student at Trinity University, ultimately receiving a master of education for the hearing impaired in 1978. Bill retired from the Air Force in 1980 and they moved to Miami, Fla. After a few years in Miami, they moved back to Iowa City in 1982.

Upon returning to Iowa City, Marlene became involved with the Hancher donor program and was a member of the Hancher Guild. She encouraged aspiring opera singers studying in the UI School of Music and she was active with the University of Iowa Museum of Art (UIMA). As a UIMA supporter, she served as a docent and on the Friends Development Council. Marlene used her entrepreneurial spirit and skills to organize the Museum Store at the UIMA.

Although volunteering her time, she approached the task with professionalism and dedication. For many years, she gave generously of her time and talent managing the store while sharing her passion for the UIMA and the visual arts. She also was active with the Raphael Club. Marlene was a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was a woman of style, elegance and grace. Always willing to lend a helping hand, she remained active in the area arts community and with other volunteer interests. In 2017, she was honored in OVATION, A Tribute to Iowa Women and Girls presented annually by the Iowa Women's Foundation. She loved to say "without the arts, life isn't worth living."

Marlene is survived by her husband, William Stanford; sister, Natalie Williams Peters; son, Paul Huston Stanford and his wife, Janna; son, Peter Ashley Stanford; daughter, Lesley Stanford Wiarda and her husband, Martin; son, Timothy Uptegrove Stanford and his wife, Jill; grandchildren, Monica Heinemann and her husband, Eric, Katherine Lynch and her husband, Dylan, Madeline Wiarda, Spencer Stanford, Trenton Stanford, Corley Stanford, Cole Stanford, Luke Stanford and Abby Stanford; and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her brother, James Williams.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Marlene requests donations be made to the arts organization of your choice. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service is handling arrangements for Marlene.

Condolences: www.lensingfuneral.com.