Florence Marple, 97, joined the heavenly angels on Saturday, August 12, 2017. She was born on July 12, 1920 to Charles and Maggie Hellwig in Philadelphia PA. She married Malcolm Marple on January 27, 1940 and loved to tell about traveling by car for their honeymoon in Washington DC with no heat as they had not yet saved enough for a heater!
Florence's memory lives on through her children, Charles Marple and Sally of Macungie PA, Evelyn Ade and Ron of Whittier CA, Pam Axelrad and Jim of Fort Smith and Janice Marple of Fort Smith; her grandchildren, Linda Ade-Stampfli and Joe of Yorba Linda CA, Kirk Marple of Chicago IL, Jason Axelrad and Jennifer of Tampa KS, and her great-grandchildren, Pippa Marple, Brent Stampfli, Ryan Stampfli and Natalie Axelrad.
The family were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Washington PA. Over the years Florence taught Sunday school, vacation bible school and was active in the women's groups. In 2008, after living in the Philadelphia area all her life, she sold the family home in Maple Glen, PA and moved to Fort Smith, AR. There she joined St. Luke Lutheran Church.
Florence was a quiet, unassuming woman with many talents. She was an avid knitter, she also enjoyed crochet and needlework. She contributed many handmade blankets and baby clothes to charities, continuing to do so until age 96. She was an accomplished seamstress making herself and the girls' clothes over the years. Ever the perfectionist in her work all were beautifully made inside and out!
Florence was a strong, kind, loving person, providing a home and caring for both her parents and mother-in-law as well as her growing family. For a time there were 9 faces around the dinner table and she always served a great meal, with dessert!
Florence had business skills too. She hadnot worked outside the home until 1972 when she and Malcolm opened a small offset printing business and she was right there beside her husband ensuring that Marple's Printing Center ran successfully for the next 35 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Malcolm Marple Jr. in 1996, her son Malcolm III in 1959, her grandson Doug Ade in 2014 and her great-grandson Brayden Axelrad in 2016.
Family hosted memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Fort Smith, AR. Cremation is under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith.
The family will visit with friends immediately following the service at the church. All are welcomed to join in celebrating Florence’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy which afflicted son Malcolm and grandson Doug. www.parentprojectmd.org
To place an online tribute, go to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18