Marlene Louise Shultz

Marlene was the beloved wife of the late Walter P. Shultz for 46 years. She was the loving mother of Laurie Barnes and Mindy Shultz. Marlene was the proud grandmother of Ethan Barnes. She was the sister of Nancy Caro. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Marlene was born on August 24, 1938 in Neodesha, KS to the late Robert Hendrickson and Ruth Richardson Hendrickson. Raised by maternal grandparents from the age of 3. Her grandfather, Henry Richardson, died when she was 10 and her grandmother Alta Richardson raised her alone, with the financial help of her uncle, Charles.

Baptized at 12 in the Fredonia Christian Church. Sang in the choir all through high school and became the church organist, along with her best friend, Leah during those years.

Moved to Kansas City in 1958 and worked at Commonwealth Theatres where she worked alongside her future sister-in-law, Ruby, who introduced her to Walter Shultz and they were married March 2, 1963. They had two daughters, Laurie and Mindy. They attended Budd Park Christian Church, where Marlene taught a Sunday School class, then they joined Hillside Christian Church where she and Walt were greeters. She also had a children's choir of around 30 children who performed monthly. She and Walt began attending PVBC in 1987 and she became a greeter and a secretary for her SS class. She also sang in the choir for several years.

Marlene was a stay-at-home mom until 1987 when she went to work for a temporary service and she worked different places; one of which was Midland International, where she met Billie Harrison, and they later became very close friends. It was Billie who invited her and Walt to attend PVBC and because of her we have so many precious friends that we never would have known.

Marlene worked for Tom's Foods for five years and then went to work for Georgia-Pacific as a receptionist/secretary/social planner/etc. and she worked there for 7 1/2 years until she retired May 2, 2002.

While the girls were in high school, Walt and Marlene were "band parents" and traveled with the Winnetonka HS band on trips and parades and most performances, and they both agree that was some of the happiest times of their lives. She was always very involved with her girls and their school activities.

Marlene loved to garden and she was very proud of her beautiful flowers. She also loved to bake home-made bread, cinnamon rolls and cookies.

Services will be announced here in the coming days. Please share memories and condolences on the White Chapel Funeral Home website.