Marjorie Marie Locke Herres

COLUMBIA - Mrs. Marjorie Marie Locke Herres, age 88, died at home on October 4, 2011. Service for Mrs. Herres will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at Forest Lake Presbyterian Church by the Reverend (Dr.) Ellen Fowler Skidmore. Burial will be at a later date at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. Visitation will be immediately following the funeral service in the parish hall.

Born in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of the late Walston L. Locke and Ruth Rogers Locke. Mrs. Herres grew up in an atmosphere where family and music were an important part of her life. Her father played several string instruments in a small band. Mrs. Herres and a friend often sang along with the group. She studied voice for three years, sang in her church choir and other choral groups in Washington, DC.

After graduating from Anacostia High School in 1941, and during World War II, Mrs. Herres worked for the British Army Staff and then for the U.S. Government in the Pentagon as a Civil Service Clerk. In 1942 she helped move the War Department from Munitions Building on the National Mall to the brand new Pentagon building. Mrs. Herres was one of the very first employees at the Pentagon who worked all four years of World War II. During World War II she met and married Col. Fred W. Herres.

Mrs. Herres was an Army wife for 47 years, traveling with her family to Army posts throughout the United States, the Philippine Islands, Japan and Germany. She had many experiences at each station involving volunteer jobs with the Chapel, Sunday school teacher, church choir, Officers Wives Club, Red Cross and Pink Lady. Mrs. Herres learned Chinese cooking from nuns in a monastery and began to learn the art of Ikebana, Japanese flower arranging. One fond and rewarding memory of Mrs. Herres' was her two-year position as a kindergarten teacher in Japan at the American School for dependent children.

Mrs. Herres was an active member of Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, a former member of the choir and Trinity Sunday School Class. She was a member of the Daffodil Garden Club, charter member and award-winning member of Ikebana International, Chapter 182, Antique Study Club, 36-year member of The Birthday Club, Retired Officers Wives Club and the Thursday Bridge Club.

In retirement Mrs. Herres loved to continue to travel, traveling extensively all over the world with friends and family. With a wink and a smile, she often wryly joked about always keeping a spare suitcase at the front door, packed and ready to catch that next plane or ship to the hinterlands.

Survivors include her three sons, Col. Fred W. Herres III, USA (Ret.) and his wife Pam Jerry Herres of Peachtree City, Georgia, Lt. Col. David and Lt. Col. Karla Herres, USAF (Ret.) of San Antonio, Texas, and Daniel P. Herres and his wife Rebecca Gilbreth Herres of Charleston, SC; grandchildren, Daniel J. Herres, Erin Herres, Katelyn Marie Herres, Andrew Herres, Mary Alston Herres and Gabriella Herres; a brother, Walston L. Locke Jr. Mrs. Herres was predeceased by her brother, Milton C. Locke, and an infant son buried at West Point.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Mrs. Marie L. Herres' memory to the Forest Lake Presbyterian Church Organ Fund at 6500 North Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206.