Marilyn Jean King

Marilyn Jean King (LeVan) packed more life into her 56 years, four months than many others do during much longer lives. She brought an unmatched spirit and vitality to her roles as a mother, wife, sister, daughter, grandmother, friend and co-worker that lives inside of the people who loved her and will live long after even her descendants have passed. Mrs. King had defining moments and experiences in each of those roles. As a mother, she was tender but honest, gently breaking the news of the non-existence of Santa Claus when ordered to tell the truth by her young son and calmly explaining the facts of life to a curious but unsuspecting daughter. She indulged her two children, Sarah and Jeff, in their passions to create an unbreakable bond, becoming a fan of the Cleveland Indians because of her son and engaging her daughter in meaningful discussions about work and the thrilling difficulty of raising children. She was a confidant to her children and a friend when they reached adulthood. Mrs. King married the love of her life, Gregory Matthew King, in 1989 and built a family with her two children that was non-traditional but just like home. The couple decided early in their relationship that their shared adventures meant more than material possessions, so they traded possible luxuries at home to satisfy their desire to travel and "get away from it all." One of Mrs. King's many loves was being in the ocean, and after family trips to Florida, Hawaii, Myrtle Beach and the Caribbean, Mr. and Mrs. King visited tropical locations annually. Mrs. King developed a personality unique from that of her two brothers, Ralph and David, but their shared traits were evident whenever the three happened to be in the same room together. She was competitive and stubborn in the good-natured arguments that would inevitably arise, and she stuck to her convictions with inspiring dedication. Her insistence on having the last word was ultimately accepted by her verbal combatants, who came to accept that "Marilyn is always right." Mrs. King was loyal to her parents, Bill and Carolyn. She ensured that they were involved in the lives of her children and that they developed a strong, loving relationship with them and with her husband. Mrs. King, Greg, and Sarah moved to Ohio in 1992 and Bill and Carolyn relocated to central Ohio not long after. Many lasting and signature family memories were created in their home near Lancaster, where the extended family frequently convened for holidays and other celebrations. Mrs. King's life became complete on Dec. 2, 2008, when Sarah gave her twin grandsons, Evan and Connor. The time Mrs. King had with her grandchildren, however limited, was the greatest blessing of the final years of her life. Her already enthusiastic outlook on life increased exponentially when Evan and Connor were around. Mrs. King’s presence when the twins were born four years ago assured they entered the world feeling nothing but love and acceptance, attributes she exhibited with them until the end of her life. In October 2012, Mrs. King gained another grandchild, Airyn. Mrs. King showed Airyn the same love even in diminished health. Mrs. King’s friends were drawn to her because of her strong opinions and because of her loyalty. Mrs. King made friends easily at work as she frequently pursued new challenges in the workplace and quickly conquered them before moving on to new ones. She made differences, big and small, in her multiple careers. As a probation officer in Wichita, Kan., Mrs. King helped went beyond the letter of her job description to assist those in need. As a technology professional in Columbus, she solved the computer problems of businesses across the United States. Mrs. King took on life similarly. When she began running in her 40s, her goal was to compete in a marathon. She ran in and completed 11. She refused to let her mind rest on lazy Sunday mornings until she conquered the New York Times crossword puzzle. She enjoyed golf, cooking, playing cards and reading. Mrs. King’s outside interests paled in comparison, however, to the love for her family and to the love they had for her. The only goal she was unable to meet was her desire to become a lawyer. It can hardly be called failure, though, because she chose parenthood over a career benchmark. It was a decision by which both she and her children felt supremely rewarded. Mrs. King is survived by her parents, Bill and Carolyn LeVan of Worthington; brothers David LeVan of Santa Cruz, Calif. and Ralph LeVan of Dublin; husband Greg King of Westerville; daughter Sarah Curran of Worthington and son Jeffrey Lutz of Wichita, Kan. and their families. A Celebration of her Life will be held on Wednesday January 30th, 3:00pm at Dublin Presbyterian Church 5775 Dublinshire Drive, Dublin Ohio In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marilyn’s name to the Columbus Bar Foundation (175 S. Third Street, Suite 1100, Columbus OH 43215) to provide needs based scholarships to local law students. To share memories or condolences, visit www.schoedinger.com. Arrangements entrusted to Schoedinger Northeast Chapel.