Marjorie Roberta Ankenman
July 7, 1928 - October 4, 2011
Obituary
Marjorie Roberta Ankenman
Marjorie Roberta Ankenman passed away October 4th, 2011 at her home in Federal Way, Washington following a brief illness.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her Father Loran Alexander, mother Lois Alexander, brothers Joseph and Gene Alexander, husband Glenn, Daughter Mary Elizabeth. She leaves behind her sisters Patty McIntire and Virginia Sue Nitcher, brothers Michael, James and Dean Alexander, daughters Delores Alexander, Glenva Colligan, Carole Spurlin and Linda Forest, sons David, Steven, Bruce and Brian, 29 grandchildren, 58 great grandchildren, 20 great, great grandchildren and many friends.
Marjorie was born in Norcatur, Kansas and shortly moved to Oberlin, Kansas where she was raised. She was the oldest of eight children and played a big part in raising her younger siblings.
During her childhood and teenage years Marjorie played trombone in the high school band and enjoyed playing basketball and dancing the Jitterbug. She graduated from high school in 1946 where she was the valedictorian of a class of 106. Three days later she married Glenn Lair Ankenman, whom she met while he was in town playing baseball for a semi-professional baseball team. They moved to Lincoln, Nebraska right after so Glenn could attend aeronautical school.
Marjorie became an instant mother because Glenn had two little girls from his previous marriage. Marjorie and Glenn had five more children bringing the grand total to seven.
In 1961 Marjorie began working for Boeing as an office administrator. In 1967, Marjorie and Glenn moved the family to the Northwest and settled in Federal Way, Washington. She worked for Boeing for 22 years and retired when she was 55 in August of 1983. She and Glenn retired on the same day.
Marjorie spent a lot of her time doing philanthropic work with her international sorority, Epsilon Sigma Alpha. She was an officer with her local chapter as well as an officer on the sorority’s state level. She was also very active in Steel Lake Presbyterian Church where she was a deacon and a Sunday school teacher for many years.
More than anything she loved being with her family. Family gatherings were what she looked forward to most, whether it was going on road trips to national parks with her children, spending weekends at Buck Lake Campground with her family and friends or spending the winter holidays with her children and grandchildren.
Marjorie will be missed dearly by her family and friends. She will be remembered as a kind woman who loved her family more than anything. Her spirit and loving ways live on within all who knew her.
Memorial Service Sunday, October 9, 2011, at 4:00 pm at Steel Lake Presbyterian Church, 1829 S. 308th St., Federal Way, WA 98003.
Eatonville, WA 98328 We are sorry that we could not
come to Marjories Memorial. We remember the good
times spent with her. Our son remembers your family
also. Ward remembers the good old days when he was
working with her at Boeing. Sally remembers her helping
cook dinners for the youth.
Love, Ward and Sally
I miss you grandma, camping and holidays aren’t the same without you. Give grandpa a big hug for me.