WINTER HAVEN - Marjorie "Marj" Whitmer Howe, 83 passed away 12/22/09 after a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer.
Marj was born Feb 19, 1926 in Alton, IL to Philip Conrad and Ruth Paula Jacoby Graul. She graduated from Alton High School, attended Shurtleff College. And then graduated from Washington University School of Nursing in St Louis, MO as a member of the Cadet Nurse Corps and received her Registered Nurse diploma.
Marj then worked in research with Dr. Robert Elman, St Louis County Hospital, Shriners Hospital, St. Louis Board of Education and as a camp nurse for Camp Thunderbird for Boys in Bemidji, MN.
She met Duaine Whitmer at Camp Thunderbird and married him on August 15, 1954 and moved to Winter Haven, FL to start their lives together. She served as a public school nurse for two years, at the Public Health Department for two years and at State Farm as Occupational Health Nurse until she retired at the age of 60. She and Duaine spent many years traveling and touring the country together.
She was involved in the "Friendly Players" a group of housewives who put on plays for the schools. She joined the Chapter CH PEO in 1969 and served in all elected positions over the years. She sang in the choir at First Presbyterian Church for 20 years, delivered Meals on Wheels, joined the hospital auxiliary, volunteered at the Hospital Thrift Shop, and served as chairman of numerous blood mobile drives. She was widowed in 1993.
In 1995, she married David Howe and enjoyed travels to Australia, Hawaii, and ocean cruising.
Marj is survived by sons Doug (Linda) Whitmer of Baltimore, MD, Phil Whitmer of Jasper, FL and daughter Julie (Rob) Blanton of Greeley, CO, step-son Terry (Kathy) Howe and step-daughter Trudy (Jim) Tarnowsky both of Bay City MI and co-in-laws and wonderful friends Melvena and Ted Carmichael. She also has 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church at 1 pm on Saturday, Dec 26th in Winter Haven, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Condolences may be sent at www.oakridgefuneralcare.com.
