MARILYN R. PETERSON

MARILYN R.
PETERSON, 94

LAKELAND - Marilyn R. Peterson, 94, of Lakeland, Florida passed away November 21, 2018 at the Florida Presbyterian Homes. She was born August 21, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Carl and Della (Lucht) Peterson.
Marilyn graduated from John Adams High School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1942. She graduated, cum laude, from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea[PV1], Ohio, with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1946.

After teaching for several years in Medina, Ohio, and Miami, Florida, Marilyn spent four years as a recreation supervisor in military hospitals with the American Red Cross, in the U.S., Japan, and Korea. She returned to Florida in 1956 and taught at Seacrest High School in Del Ray Beach and Horace Mann Middle School in Miami. Marilyn earned a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Miami in 1965. She taught English at Miami Norland Senior High School from 1969 until her retirement in 1984.
Marilyn selected Lakeland, Florida, as her retirement home and became an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, serving on the Parish Education Board and as archivist and proofreader. In 1993, she received the Florida Public Library Association's Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing her efforts to make the book sale table the largest money maker for The Friends of the Library of Polk County. Marilyn also spent many years as a docent at the Polk County Museum of Art. As an avid reader, Marilyn absorbed up to three books at a time and until the last few years, traveled extensively around the world.
In addition to her parents, Marilyn was predeceased by her sister, Ihla Dickman. Marilyn is survived by her godson Patrick Varone of Davie, Florida.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date at the Memorial Garden of the Florida Presbyterian Homes in Lakeland, where Marilyn lived since 1998.
Memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association would be greatly appreciated.
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