(Ruth) Marilyn Greenslade

November 2, 1939 – January 9, 2011

 

Marilyn Greenslade passed into Heaven to rest in peace, free of pain, after a long illness on Sunday, January 9, 2011 in the early hours of the morning.

 

Born in Los Angeles, California to Elmer and Pearl (Jeppson) Lantz, Marilyn was welcomed by her older sister, Maureen into a family who loved music and song. Marilyn loved Easter with its beautiful flowers and loved wearing the fancy new dresses handmade by her mother.

 

Classical music and opera filled her childhood home and Marilyn came to know each singer and each song along with the composers. In later years, Marilyn enjoyed the opera with her sister and brother in law, Maureen and Dan, and her husband Jim. 

 

In school, Marilyn loved art and history and sketched fashion and dress designs, which she would sew. She enjoyed movies and movie stars and chasing favorite matinee idols for autographs on the weekends in Hollywood. Marilyn had an after school job at the Capital Record building so she could keep up on the latest music. 

 

At her junior high school graduation, Marilyn was chosen to sing the feature solo, performing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. After high school, Marilyn married Gail Hunt and together they had two daughters, Elyse and Colette. During these years, Marilyn enjoyed trips to the beach, camping, sewing for her girls, and entertaining friends at home in La Crescenta.

 

In the 1970’s Marilyn built herself a career in computer sales and was fortunate enough to travel to Catalina, Mexico, Tahiti, and Central America. As a hardworking single mom, she found time to take “her girls’ to concerts and comedy shows.

 

A beautiful new chapter began in her life in the next decade when she met and fell in love with Jim Greenslade. Two beautiful step daughters, Lisa and Jill, came into her life. Together Jim and Marilyn were blessed with nine grandchildren, Sharilyn, Robert, Janet, Justin, Chris, Alaina, Patrick, Brian and Madeline. Hand in hand they shared a love of the tropics, savoring sunsets in Kauai and warm walks in the Maui sunshine. Marilyn and Jim settled into a beautiful home in the San Diego area where they enjoyed life together. Family and friends often gathered happily for birthdays, Christmas, Easter and special visits.

 

Sadly, Marilyn was diagnosed with several conditions that caused her progressive disability and chronic pain. Marilyn faced her illness with great bravery, dignity, and a persistent sense of humor. Marilyn passed in the presence of her family and friends who will remember her forever with grateful, loving hearts. Goodbye to our sweet, beautiful Marilyn…wife, mother, step-mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend.