Marlene Ann (Tice) Barnard

Marlene was born to Francis and Thelma Tice on February 4, 1938. Growing up near the center of Cincinnati as an only child, she was surrounded by a loving family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Marlene graduated from Hughes High School in 1956. She then pursued a pharmacy degree at the University of Cincinnati and although she never graduated it gave her a thirst for learning.

Marlene worked at the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) during the late 1960's, where she co-authored a paper on genetics with her boss. She also joined a bowling league and met a fellow bowler, William (Bill) Barnard. They dated for most of 1969 and were married in a small ceremony in Bethesda, MD. She gave birth to their first child, Andrea, in the summer of 1971. Soon after Andrea's birth the family moved to Fairfax, VA where she obtained a job at the World Bank in which she found enjoyment and excelled. In the spring of 1973, they moved to Cary, NC where Bill returned to working for the E.P.A and their second daughter, Leanne, was born. When the girls started school, Marlene returned to learning at NC State University, this time to pursue her long-held interest in Genetics. But her learning was not limited to the classroom, as a stay-at-home mom she was continuously learning better ways to parent her daughters. She taught her girls to become life-long learners and passed on to them her love of English and Genetics.

Bill and Marlene’s relationship turned out to be less permanent than either of them expected, but they were able to remain friends afterwards and lovingly support their daughters.

Marlene found love a few years later with Walter Olds, who was her partner until his passing in 2013.

She will always be remembered as a loving, caring mother, especially by her daughters.

Marlene’s struggle with Dementia ended when she peacefully passed on Sunday, January 8th. She is survived by her two daughters Andrea and Leanne, by her former husband Bill and by her extended family in Illinois and Indiana.

A memorial service is being planned for Saturday January 21st at 11am at Northridge CMA at 7601 Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the SPCA of Wake County.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BrownWynneCary.com for the Barnard family.