Marion I. Willoughby

Marion Irene Willoughby, 92, of Ames, died at her home in Ames on Monday, December 27, 2010. A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames. Funeral services will be Friday, December 31 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethesda Lutheran Church with Pastor Joel Hoogheem officiating. Burial will be in Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone.

Marion Willoughby was born August 6, 1918, in Ottumwa to Clarence and Pearl (Knight) Anderson. She graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1936 and married Mahlon J. Willoughby on May 2, 1939.

Marion worked most of her years as an educational secretary in the Ottumwa school system. She was active in the First Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, a member of Deborah Circle Kings Daughters and was the Superintendent of intermediate children's Sunday School Classes. She and Mahlon moved to Boone in 1984 to be closer to their daughter and her family. Marion and Mahlon moved to Ames in 1990. where she was known by most people as Grandma Willoughby. Her memberships in Ames included Bethesda Lutheran Church where she volunteered in the clothing room and food pantry, American Legion Auxiliary Post 37, Heartland Senior Services Center and was a long-time RSVP volunteer.

She is survived by a daughter, Jane (Stan) Peterson of Ames; a son, David (Mary Jane) Willoughby of Hickory, North Carolina; six grandchildren, Matthew (fiancee, Nita Parekh) Peterson, of Ames, Emily Peterson of Iowa City, Nick (fiancee, Amy Saleh) Peterson of Rochester, MN, Tim Peterson of Minneapolis, MN, Jim (Rebecca) Willoughby of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Jon (Katheryne) Willoughby of Melbourne, Florida; eight great grandchildren; and a sister, Donna Smith of Memphis, TN.

She was preceded in death by her husband; brother, Paul Anderson; and sister, Darlene Harsch.

Condolences may be sent to www.stevensmemorialchapel.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Stevens Memorial Chapel, Ames, IA.