Bertha Lee (Hancock) Marcum, 88, of Glendale, Arizona, passed away on March 30, 2021. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at the Great Commission Reform Church in Glendale, Arizona. Private burial will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona.
Bertha was born in Pima, Arizona on January 7, 1933 to Clarence and Vallie Hancock. She was the youngest of their eight children. When she was nine, her family moved to Palo Alto, California. She attended Woodlake High School where she participated in the Marching Band and played on the basketball team. She met her future husband one day while walking down the street with a friend and Richard drove by and saw her. He put the car in reverse and the rest is their history. They were married in Woodlake, California on her birthday in 1951.
In 1960, Bertha and Richard moved their family to Phoenix, Arizona in the Maryvale area. While living in Maryvale, Bertha became active in the community. She was a girls softball coach in the summer recreation league and a water safety instructor at the Maryvale pool. She was also the church recreation leader at West Phoenix Baptist Church.
Bertha and Richard were avid square dancers. They participated in weekly dances that were held in the Maryvale Shopping Center. She sewed all their outfits herself.
Bertha went back to college at Glendale Community College when her children were older. She then completed her B.A.E in Physical Education with a minor in Home Economics at Arizona State University. She graduated with high honors. She taught at Maryvale and South Mountain High Schools.
Bertha had a passion for photography that took her and Richard traveling all over the United States, Canada and Europe. They visited all 50 states and every lighthouse on the east and west coast. Her favorite spot to take pictures was at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. She won several awards over the years for her photography skills.
Bertha will be remembered for her quick wit and outgoing personality. She was very analytical and loved research. She always asked “Why?” and if the answer wasn’t readily available, she searched until she found the answer.
Bertha leaves behind her three children, Steve Marcum, Carole Kraft and Sandra Kay Woody, eight grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and many loved friends.
She is preceded in heaven by her husband of 66 years, Richard Arlan Marcum and her entire Hancock family. Bertha outlived them all!
The family suggests Memorials be to American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
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