Marlene Benton

BENTON

Marlene Ann



A Sister of the Highest Quality

Marlene (Lene) Benton, age 69, formerly of Rosemead, California, passed away on September 18, 2014, with loving family members present. She was born in Toledo to Marvin and Erma Benton.

After graduating from Whitmer High School, Marlene settled on a career in office administration. In keeping with her sense of adventure, she also became a cheerleader for the Toledo Tornadoes.

With this sense of adventure, mixed with a desire to be independent, Marlene surpassed her fears, and moving to California, she began building a life, career, and home.

The distance between California and Ohio did not keep Marlene from keeping close ties with her family. She shouldered the role of the "eldest sister" with literal gravity, feeling duty-bound to set a good example, inspiring others to continue to learn and to grow. This she did for family and friends alike.

With her ever-present love, Marlene honored family and friends by commemorating occasions of celebration, without fail. Selfless, with unconditional love, she opened her home without hesitation to those in need of refuge. In addition, the care she gave her pets was unsurpassed. In her determination to be independent, she was accelerating our society's acceptance for unmarried women to be homeowners. Moreover, she lived her life encouraging multi-cultural sensitivity.

After accepting an early retirement from Southern California Electric, Marlene plunged herself into volunteering at a nature center, devoting many hours to guiding school groups, fundraising, and publishing, as well as participating in river cleanup days.

She persevered in transforming her realm into a wildlife sanctuary, filling her front yard with California poppies, a marvel and attraction for the neighborhood children, while her backyard became a quiet setting for mornings spent watching birds, butterflies, and lizards enlivening the courtyard in the evanescent ocean fog.

Marlene's desire to be close to nature would take her on many camping trips. Memorable are the nights that sisters spent talking for hours under the gleam of the Montana moon and sleeping under the stars after experiencing a California grunion run. Memorable are the days of the butterfly fairyland of Pismo Beach and exploring the majesty of the Rocky Mountain Front.

Marlene is survived by her sisters, Dorothy (Danny) Stobaugh, Pat Rose, Fay (Steve) Schaller, Roberta Benton, and Evon Patterson, and brother, Marvin Benton. Her father, Marvin and her mother, Erma preceded her in death.

The family held a private memorial service for this sister of the highest quality. She will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be donated to the Knox-Whitley Animal Shelter, 606-526-6925, or the Alzheimer's Association, 800-272-3900.

Arrangements by Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe, 419-476-9176. Online condolences can be shared at

www.sujkowski.com

"That which is purely loved never deserts us..."

- Donald Culross Peattie