Marilyn Martha Stuber

Dr. Marilyn Cook Stuber passed away peacefully at Hillcrest Raleigh on January 26, 2026, at the age of 95. She was born October 29, 1930, to Jacob Daniel and Emma Graul Cook in Ord, Nebraska. She grew up on a farm and attended elementary school in a one-room school house. After graduating from Ord High School, she taught elementary students in a rural one-room school for one year to earn money to attend college.

She attended the University of Nebraska where she met her future husband (Charles Stuber) and received a B.S. Degree in Vocational Home Economics. She and Charles were married immediately after her graduation (May 28, 1953) and she accompanied him on his military (U.S. Navy) assignments. During this time, she taught Home Economics in high schools in Portsmouth, VA, Berlin, MD, and Norfolk, VA. After Charles was discharged, they moved to a farm in central Nebraska. During the three years they lived on the farm, Marilyn taught Home Economics in a high school in Grand Island, NE.

After their farming experience, the couple moved to Lincoln, NE, to pursue master’s degrees at the University of Nebraska where Marilyn received the M.S. degree in Home Economics. Their son, Charles, Jr. (Chuck) was born during their first year in graduate school. After receiving their master’s degrees in 1961, they moved to Raleigh, NC, for Charles to pursue a doctoral degree at NC State University.

Marilyn was hired by Meredith College in 1965 as a Home Economics Instructor. In 1967 she became an Assistant Professor and was appointed as Chairman of the Home Economics Department, a position she held until her retirement in 1995. She moved up through the ranks and was promoted to Full Professor in 1980. When Marilyn was hired at Meredith College, there were two faculty members in the department. Under her leadership, that number had increased to 17 full time and part time faculty members in the department when she retired 30 years later. Also, the number of areas of study expanded from one in General Home Economics to five – Nutrition, Interior Design, Child Development, Fashion Merchandising, and General Home Economics (Teacher Education). Shortly before she retired, the name of the department was changed to Human Environmental Sciences and it had the largest number of majors of any department in the college.

During Marilyn’s 28 years as Chair of the Home Economics Department, she carried a full teaching load (12 hours) and advised 150 majors each semester. In addition, she earned a Doctorate in Occupational Education at NC State University in 1979 without taking off any time from her employment. She was a very compassionate and understanding mentor to her many advisees, and continues to receive numerous accolades from the alumnae. When she retired, the alumnae established an endowment fund in her honor to support scholarships for students in the department.

During her tenure at Meredith College, Marilyn received numerous teaching awards and was the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer in 1971. In 1995, she received the Laura Weatherspoon Presidential Award, given to faculty members for their contributions to the College and its programs. She was recognized for her focus and dedication to student advising during her long and distinguished career at Meredith. In 1992, she received the College of Home Economics Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Nebraska. Marilyn was active in numerous professional organizations and chaired several committees for the American Home Economics Association. She was also elected to membership in several honorary societies. In 2024, Marilyn received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Ord High School.

After retirement from Meredith College, Marilyn served as a docent at the North Caroline Museum of History for more than 22 years volunteering more than 200 hours per year. She also served in a number of volunteer activities with her husband at Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh. She and Charles also loved to square dance and round dance and they participated actively on the dance floor for more than 45 years.

Marilyn loved to travel and accompanied Charles on many professional trips in numerous countries. Her family took many trips together and they visited all seven continents, including Antarctica.

Marilyn was devoted to her family and was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loved the beach, collecting seashells, dogs, and was an amazing pianist, playing incredible pieces of music from memory. While Marilyn had a very busy professional life, she always had time to listen and talk with family members and offer words of wisdom and encouragement. Marilyn delighted in her family and was so proud of the accomplishments of her husband, son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and in the activities of her great grandchildren. Two of her proudest moments were seeing her grandson Alex graduate as a valedictorian from N.C. State University and her granddaughter Andie graduate summa cum laude from Meredith College in Interior Design, a major that she had created during her tenure as the Chairperson of the Home Economics Department at Meredith. Marilyn will be greatly missed, but Heaven unquestionably has another angel with her arrival.

She was preceded in death by her grandson, Alexander Stuber; her parents, Dan and Emma Cook; her sister, Roberta Stewart, and Roberta’s son, Ron Stewart; her brother. Wilfred Cook, and his wife Evelyn Cook. She is survived by her husband, Charles Willaim Stuber; her son Charles William Stuber, Jr; his wife, Janet Stuber; her granddaughter Andrea Moholt and husband Patrick Moholt; two great grand-children, Clara and Charles Moholt; and many friends and relatives.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Marilyn Stuber scholarship fund at Meredith College or to the music ministry program at Highland United Methodist Church. A celebration of life will be held for Marilyn at a date and time yet to be determined.

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