Marilyn Wirth Coudon

Marilyn married the late Lt. Lewis F. Wirth in 1951. Her husband was tragically killed in a military aircraft accident in California in 1953; they had a son from that marriage, the late John Lewis Wirth (Irene). In 1955, Marilyn married Henry F. Coudon, Jr. and together they had five sons, Joseph Henry (Carol), James Mitchell (Linda), Jerome Matthew and the late Jeffrey Mark and Henry F. Coudon III. She leaves behind a legacy of 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

On the Waninger side, Marilyn is survived by her dear sisters, Carole Malone Sheahan (James) of Williamsburg, VA and Anita Steck (the late David) of St. Louis, MO. On the Coudon side she is remembered by her beloved extended family Ann Coudon Robbins (the late Charles) of Bel Air, MD, Thomas Coudon (Margherita) of Port Deposit, MD and Edward Coudon (Trudy) of Pottstown, PA. She is preceded in death by sister in laws, Mary Elizabeth Coudon, Clarita Coudon, Kathy Coudon Acker (Harry).

As a young woman, Marilyn attended Patricia Stevens Modeling School and St. Louis Secretarial School and was employed as a "Kelly Girl" at a radio station where she was voted "Miss KMOX." She attended St. Louis University at night while employed and also did fashion modeling in department stores and photographic modeling for newspapers.

In 1961, Marilyn's husband, Henry entered her in the Mrs. Maryland contest which is part of the Mrs. America contest. At the state level, she competed with 150 women and won the title of "Mrs. Maryland 1961." She later appeared as a special guest on television programs and lectured to local high school students and women's clubs. She taught a course in Grooming and Etiquette at West Nottingham Academy in 1962-1963.

Marilyn served as a Cub Scout Den Mother for 8 years while her sons were young and was elected Den Mother of the Year in Harford County along the way. She worked in retail in Harford County and was the Manager of a men's clothing store. She was later Office Manager of a dental practice in Havre de Grace. In 1981, she received a Business Administration degree and in 1992 another degree in Interior Design. She worked independently as a Design Consultant in both Harford and Baltimore Counties.

Marilyn loved flowers and was a proud member of the Evergreen Garden Club of Harford County since 1982, serving in many positions including President for 12 years. She and other members of her garden club were instrumental in the introduction of wildflowers along I-95 after contacting Governor William Schaefer and working with the State Highway Administration. She earned many ribbons at Flower Shows and worked on community projects including Habitat for Humanity. She planned many bus trips for the members of the Garden Club visiting locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia.

Before moving from Havre de Grace to Bel Air, Maryland, she was active at St. Joan of Arc Church in Aberdeen, serving as President of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, working with the Fish Program and on the parish Bereavement Hospitality Committee.

Some of Marilyn's favorite activities included planning parties, entertaining, as well as landscaping and gardening. Her homes were on several House and Garden tours to raise funds for cancer research, but her expansive family of loved ones was most important to her and she was very proud of each and every one of them.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for Marilyn at St. Ignatius Catholic Church 533 E Jarrettsville Rd Forest Hill, MD 21050, on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 11am.