Marilyn Joan Byrd Engelking

Marilyn Joan Byrd Engelking (nee Mayer) died in San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 21, 1926 and was preceded in death by her parents, George Mayer and Helen Wall Mayer; and brother, Thomas Mayer.

Survivors include her beloved husband of 40 years, Donald Joseph Engelking; son, Mark Byrd and wife Rita; and grandson, Austin Byrd of Beach Park, Illinois; daughter, Linda Byrd Hunt of San Dimas, California; stepdaughter, Margaret Engelking and husband, Hal Lloyd; granddaughter, Georgia Lloyd of San Antonio; stepdaughter, Susan Engelking Rosenberg; granddaughter, Joely Rosenberg; and grandson, Jack Rosenberg; stepdaughter, Marion Engelking Delarosa Douglas and husband, Paul; grandson, Joseph Delarosa; granddaughter, Rachel Douglas; brother, Gerald Mayer and wife, Dorothy of Palos Verdes, California. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Marilyn loved to travel and after finishing her education at the age of 21, applied for a position with the US Army in Heidelberg, Germany. This began her 30 year Civil Service career with the US Army. After two years, she returned to work in Illinois at HQ Fifth US Army in Chicago and Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

The merger of Fourth and Fifth US Armies brought her to Fort Sam Houston in 1971 (where she met her husband, Don). Both civil service employees, they transferred to Fort Monroe, Virginia in 1974.

In 1978, they began what was to be a seven-year assignment in Heidelberg, Germany (where they traveled extensively), returning to San Antonio in 1985. Marilyn retired from Fort Sam Houston in 1990 and began devoting volunteer time to Texas preservation issues.

She was an active member of the San Antonio Conservation Society (having served on the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee). Marilyn also gave many volunteer hours to NIOSA, and to St. Luke's Green Door Thrift Shop.

She is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the San Antonio Historical Association, and the Society for the Preservation of Historic Fort Sam Houston, and an associate member of the Professional Tour Guide Association of San Antonio.

Marilyn treasured her many friendships. In addition to travel, her hobbies, included reading, the theater, movies, playing bridge, dining out in restaurants, and enjoying an occasional Grey Goose vodka Martini.

She will be remembered for her dry wit and sense of humor.

MEMORIAL EUCHARIST MASS

FRIDAY

MARCH 28, 2014

9:00 A.M.

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

1018 E. GRAYSON STREET

FOLLOWED BY A RECEPTION IN THE PARISH HALL.

Private placement of cremated remains will be in the Columbarium at Cathedral Park on the grounds of the Bishop Jones Center, 111 Torcido Drive, San Antonio.