Marian Todd

People often considered themselves blessed by the many events of their lives – sharing love with a spouse, caring for children, experiencing new adventures every day. Marian L. Todd was one of these special people. She exemplified what a mother and wife should be. She lived by wholesome values that she passed on to her children with a warm and giving heart.

In 1913, the country was in the midst of great change. A new president, Woodrow Wilson, had just taken office and immigrants from all corners of the world were making their way to the U.S. for the opportunity for a better life. While life in rural Michigan was still basically the same as it was a generation before. Families generally had many children and fields were tamed with a horse, plow and the sweat of one’s brow. In the midst of these changing times, David and Jane (Manning) Williams welcomed into this world on September 23, 1913, their fifth of seven children, Marian Lucille. She and her six brothers grew up on 2nd Street in rural Kalamazoo and attended Kalamazoo Public Schools. Like many young people in this time, Marian left school to help support her family during the Great Depression. This taught Marian to be a caring, loving and independent person with strong sense of family values, which she would carry on to her own children. Marian was the glue that helped create such a close-knit family.

Marian met a charming young man named Albert William Todd who would sweep her off her feet. The fell in love and were married on September 4, 1934, in Kalamazoo. The young couple moved around a lot throughout their marriage. They lived in Arizona, California and Florida, before ultimately settling down in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They traveled extensively, enjoying cruises, flying and numerous road-trips throughout the United States. Marian had quite the knack for recalling precise directions to small and out-of-the-way places-especially restaurants.

Albert and Marian were blessed with a son, Albert Jr. “Bill”, and a daughter, Joan. While Albert worked outside the home to provide for his family, Marian stayed home lovingly raising her children. After having raised her children, Marian continued her work as a seamstress and also went to work as a medical secretary in various medical practices. Marian’s passion was to support her family. She was constantly an example of a mother’s love. When Joan was little she was sickly and Marian and Albert drove her to a doctor in Battle Creek every day for treatments, making sure she had the best care. Although she & Albert were the disciplinarians, Marian accepted her children for their own unique and individual qualities, always treating them fairly and with a loving heart. She took great pride in her children and the successes of their lives are a great testimony to her parenting.

Marian was an excellent cook and her home was always open for friends and family to drop by for a warm and wholesome meal. Saturday’s were always set aside for Marian and her daughter, Joan to bake cookies and pies. On Friday’s, the family would pack themselves into the ’49 two tone green Chevy and head into Kalamazoo for grocery shopping, dropping the car off to have it fixed, enjoying dinner at Schensul’s Cafeteria and a special treat of chocolate soda at Woolworth’s Department Store.

The one thing that upheld Marian throughout her life was her faith in God. Marian accepted the Lord as her personal Saviour in 1945 before one of several major surgeries she would have that year. She was a member of the Covey Hill Baptist Church for many years. She and Albert were active in many of her church’s activities. They generously gave much of their time, money and resources to encourage and support the youth of their church. One of Marian’s greatest legacies is that she never had a critical word to say about anyone. Currently, she was attending Westwood Church of God in Kalamazoo.

Marian loved to sew and became a gifted self-taught seamstress. In her free time, she also enjoyed working with ceramics. She and Albert enjoyed bowling on various bowling leagues throughout their life together. Music also brought a lot of joy into Marian’s life for she loved to sing, especially “You are My Sunshine” and also many hymns and choruses. Even through her sickness, her caregivers could hear her sweetly singing her carefree song, which filled the room with light and warmth touching those around her.

Marian L. Todd went to be with her heavenly Father on Sunday, December 28, 2003, at Rose Arbor Hospice. Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; brothers: Roy, Ralph, Nelson, Howard and Wesley; and son-in-law, Bernard Yost. She is survived by her son, Albert W. “Bill” (Sandra) Todd, Jr. of Ocoee, FL; her daughter, Joan Yost of Kalamazoo; four grandchildren: Lisa A. Headley of Ocoee, FL, Jason A. Todd of Kalamazoo, MI, Pamela S. Richardson and Sheryl R. Tufts both of Mattawan, MI; twelve great-grandchildren; and her brother, Charles Williams of Kalamazoo, MI. Friends may spend time with the family on Friday, January 2, from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the BETZLER LIFE STORY, FUNERAL HOMES, Stadium Drive, West of US-131.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, January 3, at 11:00 a.m. at the Westwood Church of God. Following the service, food and fellowship will be shared in the church hall. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery. To read Marian’s life story, share a memory, send flowers or make a memorial contribution to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or the Westwood Church of God, please visit her personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com.

Marian was a model of devotion and love, a kind and benevolent mother who illuminated and touched many lives. As she lives on in heaven, so shall her memories live on in your hearts.