Obituary published on Legacy.com by Memory Garden Memorial Park & Mortuary on May 20, 2025.
Marion Ann Van Voorhis was born on January 15th 1938 and left this earth on May 11th, 2025, in Fullerton California. She was 87 years old.
Marion is survived by her daughter Vicki (Jay), her son Marty, and her son Kevin (Alison), ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, three sisters and one brother.
She is having an incredible reunion with her husband of 65 years
Robert, her parents Pete and Selma, and her three great-granddaughters Sadie, Averie and Ellie.
Marion was born on January 15th, 1938 to Pete and Selma Owen in San Bernardino, California. She was the oldest of six children. As a child, her family moved from place to place depending on her father's job. She and her family moved to Colton, California in junior high. She attended Colton High School where she would maintain a 4.0 GPA, was Valedictorian of the class of 1956, and Colton High's first Woman Student Body President. It was also at Colton High where she met her soulmate, Bob Van Voorhis.
After she graduated in 1956, one year later she and Bob were married on
September 2, 1957. While Bob finished his college education at Long Beach State, Marion worked until her first child Vicki was born. Eleven months later she gave birth to her first son, Marty, and three years later to her youngest, Kevin.
Once her children were all in school, Marion began her journey of completing her college education. Despite being a full-time mom and part-time college student, she never missed a football or basketball game as the coach's wife. After ten years of going back to school, she graduated with an AA from Fullerton College and later earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education from California State University Fullerton. In 1979, she received her Masters Degree in Education.
In 1976, she got her first job teaching math at Ladera Vista Junior High in Fullerton California. Then in 1977, she moved to teach at Wilshire Jr. High. When Wilshire closed, she moved to Nicolas Jr. High where she stayed until her retirement in 2001. She loved teaching junior high, and was passionate about her students learning mathematical skills, and worked hard to help her students recognize their full potential.
She was also a leader amongst her peers and represented them in her union at the local, state, and National levels. After retiring from teaching Marion became a Master Teacher, mentoring students just starting their teaching careers.
Retirement saw Marion and Bob spending time together traveling in their travel trailer. They enjoyed watching their grandchildren play soccer, basketball, baseball, or football as well as going to all school activities. She loved her family and being a Grandma was her favorite pastime.
Marion enjoyed reading, crocheting, knitting, and sewing. She enjoyed attending Bible Study and was always involved in her kids' school. She attended church regularly and instilled the importance of that in her children.
Marion will be laid to rest on Saturday, June 7th at 10:00 AM in Memory Garden Memorial Park and Mortuary.
455 W. Central Ave.
Brea, CA. 92821
A graveside will immediately follow.
In place of flowers, any donations can be made to the
Alzheimer's Association at Alz.org.