Marilyn Meadows

MARILYN JEAN (ENGELHARDT) MEADOWS

Monona

7/24/1932 11/24/2016

Marilyn Jean (Engelhardt) Meadows passed away peacefully on Thanksgiving Day with her husband of nearly 58 years, Martin Meadows, at her side, as he had been constantly since her stroke in January 2011. She persevered through those painful post-stroke years and never lost her feisty spirit, sharp wit or will to live.

Marilyn was born the second of six siblings on July 24, 1932, in Monona, Iowa, to Maury and Frances (Henderson) Engelhardt. After graduating from Monona High School, Class of 1950, Marilyn attended Upper Iowa University and earned a teaching certificate. Marilyn taught elementary school in Iowa before heading to the University of Oregon, where she took additional courses and met Martin. She later taught elementary school in Springfield, Ore.

Marilyn and Martin were married Feb. 6, 1959, as Martin pursued a Ph.D. in political science and Marilyn finished her bachelor's degree in education, both from the University of Maryland.

Martin became a political science professor at American University in Washington, D.C., and although Maryland was home base, Marilyn and family had the opportunity through Martin's Fulbright grants to live and travel abroad.

Marilyn loved meeting people from all cultures and backgrounds and reminisced fondly throughout her life about all the wonderful places she had been fortunate to see.

The couple spent winters with his parents in Boca Raton, Fla. They enjoyed being snowbirds and playing tennis.

Marilyn loved to walk and talk, play bridge and tennis, lunch and shop with friends, do crossword puzzles and accumulate collectibles.

In accordance with Marilyn's wishes, she was cremated. An online memorial (www.forevermissed.com/marilyn-meadows) has been created so family and friends have a chance to participate in celebrating her life.

Preceding Marilyn in death were her parents and sister, Shirley Engel.

Surviving are her husband, Dr. Martin Meadows; her daughters, Sally (Ian Massey) Meadows of Los Altos, Calif., and Rebecca (Thomas) Spaur of Barboursville, Va.; five grandchildren, Jacob and Rachel Grate (San Francisco), Kara and Paul Patch (Barboursville, Va.) and Demi Patch (Atlanta); two great-grandchildren, Anna and Ethan Riggs; two sisters, Norma (LaVerne) Landt of Monona and Mary (Gary) Chappell of McGregor; and two brothers, Daryl (Rita) Engelhardt of Sun City West, Ariz., and David Engelhardt of Monona.

Donations, instead of flowers or cards, may be made in Marilyn's memory to donate.peacecorps.gov/donate/fund/let-girls-learn/. Donations should indicate that they are in memory of Marilyn Engelhardt Meadows.