Marilyn Tarbox

Long time Barstow resident and owner of Tarbox Bookkeeping and Tax Service in downtown Barstow, Marilyn West Tarbox, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 3, 2017. Born on Mother’s Day, May 8, 1932, in Pocatello, Idaho, Marilyn was the daughter of Fred and Winifred West of Wasco, California.

Her family Wendall (Shirley), Joseph (Linda), Suzanne (Dick), and Fred (Kay) lived in Blackfoot, Idaho, Ogden, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah where she graduated from South High School, and Wasco, California. She met Lewis Russell Tarbox while attending college at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority there. She subsequently attended LDS Business College and received her certificate from that institution prior to marrying Russ on August 20, 1951 in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were married for 42 years, until Russ’s unexpected death in 1993.

Russ and Marilyn moved in 1954 to Wasco, California where they worked with Marilyn’s parents in their accounting office, “Fred L. West and Associates”. In 1965 they moved to Taylorsville, Utah, where Russ took a position teaching accounting at LDS Business College. And finally the couple moved to Barstow in 1968, where Russ was a business department instructor at Barstow Community College and later an Assistant Dean.

While in Barstow, Marilyn worked at Fort Irwin Training Center in the early 1970’s during the period in which it was deactivated. Then she joined Harry Ford’s Accounting Office as a staff bookkeeper. When Mr. Ford retired, she and Russ bought the bookkeeping practice and moved the office to downtown Barstow until Marilyn closed the office in 2009.

Marilyn was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving as a volunteer in various positions including as a teacher and President of the Primary Organization, a youth ministry of the church for children ages 3 to 11. During her tenure as President of the Barstow California Stake Primary of the church, she became involved as an adult volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, serving on the District Committee including, for a time, as the District Commissioner. In 1984, she was awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest award given to an adult leader on the district level. For many years, as a part of her responsibilities, she conducted training sessions for Cub Scout Leaders.

Russ and Marilyn were the parents of seven children, Laurel (Tim), Christine (Bill), Lawrence (Brooke), Robert, John (Dean), Carolyn, and Marlene. Two of their sons served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one in Mexico, and one in Taiwan. They have 24 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 12 great great grandchildren. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Winifred, her beloved husband, Russ, her brothers, Joseph and Fred, her son, Robert, grandchild, Mark, and grandchild, Sarah.

A memorial service is planned for Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 11:00 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2571 Barstow Road in Barstow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Barstow Community College Foundation's Scholarship Fund. Contact information 2700 Barstow,CA 92311, (760)252-6709, or email BCF @Barstow.edu.