Marian G. Lightner
January 29, 1924 - December 12, 2010
Obituary
Marian Lightner at the age of eighty-six passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 12, 2010 in Renton, Washington. She is predeceased by her parents; an African American pioneer family Sampson and Rhoda Valley, brothers Carl and Stanley Valley and two sisters, Juanita Reynolds and Lois Allen.
Marian is survived by her beloved husband Alford A. Lightner, step daughter Stephanie Lightner Lee of North Hills, California, grandson Marcell Newman of Los Angeles, California, niece Charlotte Reynolds Quao and husband Percy of Vancouver, Canada, nephew Phillip Reynolds of Seattle. Washington, nieces and nephews in Seattle, California and Florida, grand niece and grand nephew Angela and Anthony Quao of Vancouver, Canada and grand niece Racquelle Reynolds of Los Angeles, California and other relatives and friends.
Marian was born on January29, 1924 in Seattle, Washington. While growing up, she and her family were active members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She graduated from Garfield High School in the early 1940’s. After graduating from high school she attended Hampton University and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree. She then pursued a career as a Dietician at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. After two years she moved to California and worked at the Veteran’s Administration as a Dietician. At the Veteran’s Administration she was held in high esteem until her retirement after twenty-five years of service 1988.
In 1954 she met her husband Alford Lightner of fifty-two years; they married in 1955. She and her husband resided in Los Angeles, Ca. until 1965 and then moved to Altadena, Ca. where they resided for twenty-four years. In Altadena she was an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and was known to be dear to relatives and friends.
Shortly after retirement, she and Alford moved to Seattle, Washington to be close to family members: Mrs. Rhoda Valley mother, Lois Valley Allen sister and Mr. Stanley Valley brother. During retirement, she and her husband enjoyed the fruits of their labor and travelled to exotic places such as the Caribbean Dutch Antilles, ST Thomas, Barbados, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, cruises to Central America, Greece. Turkey, Jerusalem. Egypt, Brazil and toured Italy. North Africa, Spain and Portugal.
Marian became ill with a pancreatic condition in 2010. A private memorial service was held at Bonney Watson Funeral Home in Tukwila on December 20, 2010. Throughout her life Marian was always a giving, humorous, kind and loving individual. She will be deeply missed by her husband, family and friends.
