1954. She attended UC Riverside and eventually enrolled in Skadron Business College in San
Bernardino. In 1956, she married her high school sweetheart, Richard Churchwell, and spent the next few
years traveling to his various duty stations as he trained to become a Navy Pilot. In 1976, she and her family moved to Fullerton, Ca from Texas.
In her professional life, she was an Executive Secretary for the Fullerton Joint Union School district and served 3 district Superintendents. She retired from the school district at the end of 1998 and her 20 plus years were recognized with an article in the Fullerton News Tribune.
Marlene loved her family and drove the weekly 1 hour trip to visit with her father, Stanley Cooley as he aged to 90 plus years. She spent her remaining years traveling with her husband to see family and friends while keeping in touch with her girlfriends from school days.
She lost her long battle with Dementia and Alzheimer's disease on March 23, 2024.
She is survived by her brother, Dale; two sons, Rick and Rob as well as 3 grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held May 10 at Montecito Memorial Park in Colton, CA from 10:30 to 11:00 am.
