Marion Stiles Rotenberg

Marion was born in Louisville, Kentucky on August 29, 1929. She was preceded in death by her husband Daniel L. Rotenberg, her brother Samuel Stiles and son-in-law F. Carl VanWinkle. She is survived by her three children and their families: Gail VanWInkle (McKinney, Texas), Clay Rotenberg (Austin, Texas), Clay’s wife Pat Miller Rotenberg, Clay’s two sons Adam Rotenberg and Aaron Rotenberg; Jule Rotenberg Armstrong (Plano, Texas), Jule’s husband Jack Armstrong and their son Onik Zane Armstrong.

She grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, then as a child moved with her family to Frankfort, Kentucky. At the start of World War II, age 13, she climbed the tower of the Frankfort State Building to see if she could see enemy war planes.

As a child of a news reporter, Marion grew up loving words. She was later sometimes referred to as Marion the Grammarian. And she made a career knowing words as a secretary. She also learned shorthand, a rare linguistic form, which she used at her job and later on the bottom of Christmas presents.

After graduating high school, she went on to Brookhaven, Georgia where she studied at Oglethorpe University for one year. She met lifelong friends there. She entered the work force, and eventually landed at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana in the admissions office. This is where she noticed a new young law professor, Daniel L. Rotenberg. They married six months later.

After moving around for Daniel’s work as a law professor, they finally settled in Houston, Texas where they raised their three children. Daniel was a very well-respected law professor at the University of Houston Law School and Marion was a stay-at-home-mom until her youngest was in junior high, then she went back to work as a legal secretary for Shell Oil.

As well as a baker, she was also an accomplished artist and seamstress. She also loved to travel. Once Marion retired, she and her husband started a regular habit of cruising twice a year, totaling over 30 cruises. She particularly loved the Caribbean and snorkeling.

Marion’s children know they were blessed to have their mom live such a long wonderful life. Here are some thoughts from them:

Gail - “I remember mom used to pick me up from school with a lost dog in the backseat. We’d go around finding the owner. She was everyone’s mom. All my friends adopted her. She made homemade Christmas cookies during the holidays.”

Clay - “Mom was just always there for us and always put us first. She would make whatever cake or pie we wanted for our birthday. Since my teen years, I’ve been interested in working out and health. For my birthdays she willingly made me a meatloaf cake or a pan of roasted pecans with a candle in the center.”

Jule - “Mom loved words, puns and crossword puzzles. One time I called her to tell her I was sick, that I felt nauseous. She paused for a moment then broke the silence by telling me the correct word was nauseated. No one wore red lipstick like my mom, except for maybe my sister.”

Marion encouraged her children to be freethinking, independent and to be able to take care of themselves. She embodied this independent spirit by living by herself well into her 80s until she suffered a stroke. She then moved into independent living facilities and finally an assisted living facility, winning the hearts of all her attended on her with her wit and humor.

During her husband’s final years, he was increasingly disabled then bed-ridden. She was his sole caregiver and never complained about it. Even in her own final years, she embraced life to the fullest with grace and charm. Marion’s family would like to thank the Village on the Park for their generous and loving care.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 25th from 2-4 in the chapel at the Village on the Park in McKinney.