Marlene Stahl Barz, 79, of St. James passed away Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.
Marlene was born Jan. 21, 1936 in Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of the late Otto and Elsie Stahl. She was raised in Cullom, Illinois and attended college at Northern Illinois University, where she graduated with a degree in music education. Her career included teaching music in Illinois, California, Virginia and Maryland.
She married her husband, Graydon, on Sept. 28, 1963 and they would have celebrated their 52nd anniversary this year. They moved to St. James in 1998 from Maryland.
At St. James, she was a member of the Service Club and the Southport Women’s Club and a volunteer at Hope Harbor. One of Marlene’s passions was singing, and her beautiful voice added to the Sea Notes Choral Society, where she was a soloist and a longtime member.
She was very active at her church, St. Peter Lutheran, and is remembered for her participation in the choir and as a director of several church dramas. Marlene was known on the golf course as one who could talk and swing at the same time. She was an ardent reader and enjoyed games with neighborhood groups, where her cheerful demeanor lent to good times with friends.
Marlene loved her family and especially enjoyed her four grandchildren; she is survived by her husband Graydon; a daughter Kerstin Kaiser and husband Jerry; a son Graydon Barz Jr. and wife Michele; three grandsons, Griffin Kaiser, Mason Kaiser, and Graydon R. Barz; and a granddaughter Ariana Barz. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Arnold and Gordon Stahl.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at St. Peter Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Peter Mission Endowment Fund, 4843 Southport-Supply Road SE, Southport, NC 28461.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Peacock – Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service.
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