Marjorie A. Beane

Marjorie Pixley Beane of Wooster, died on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at home in Wooster. She was born on December 18, 1930 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to George and Opal (Birge) Pixley. She graduated from high school in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1948. Marge received a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1952 with a pre-med major. She edited the college newspaper, played clarinet in the marching band and graduated second in her class academically with summa cum laude honors. In 1962, she received a Master of Education degree from the University of Illinois. She and Donald Beane of Aurora, Illinois were married on June 21, 1952 and shared 59 1/2 years together, raising two sons and a daughter. Don served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 through 1956. The couple lived on Air Force bases in Florida, Texas, California and South Dakota. They moved to Wooster in 1962 and were very active in the First Presbyterian church for almost 50 years. Marge served as elder, deacon, and mission coordinator of the Presbyterian Women's group. She taught Sunday school, directed the children's choir, and sang soprano in the Sanctuary Choir. She was a volunteer in Kid's Club for many years. Marge had a passion for the power of prayer and was instrumental in starting an intercessory prayer service in her church in 1988, which continues today. She was active in Habitat for Humanity in Wayne County and served as volunteer coordinator for five years. For 18 years Marge was employed by the Wooster Public Schools as a special education teacher in Kean and Beall Avenue elementary schools. She retired in 1994. After retirement she and her husband went to India as mission volunteers of the Presbyterian Church in the USA, PC (USA). She served as an elementary school teacher (K-4), in Kodaikanal and Woodstock Christian International Boarding Schools during three tours of service: 1995-96, 1998-99, and 2001-02. Also, the couple served as mission volunteers of PC (USA) in Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska for the summers of 2004 and 2007. Over the years Marge and Don served as host family for many international students at the College Of Wooster. Marge's hobbies included bird watching, gardening, and singing. In addition to her church choir, she sang soprano in the Wayne County Choral Union from its inception some eight years ago to the present. She loved to travel. Marge and Don traveled extensively in the US and Canada. International travel included two years in England during Don's sabbatical leaves from the College of Wooster. While there, Marge conducted extensive studies into the genealogical history of the Beanes and the Pixleys. Other trips included a summer in Europe and tours of Vietnam and China. One highlight was a year-long trip by air around the world in 2001-2002 to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. The trip started by way of the Atlantic. They visited Denmark and then spent ten months teaching in India. The return trip by way of the Pacific included visits to Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, and Hawaii. Marge is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, George and is survived by her husband, Don; brother, Stephen; sons, David (Melanie) of Ludlow Falls, Ohio and John (Ann) of Shoreview, Minnesota; daughter, Linda of De Pere, Wisconsin; granddaughters, Beth, Amy, and Hannah; grandsons, Michael (Victoria), Tyler (Mairead), and Elliott; great-granddaughter, Lilly; and a large community of extended family and friends. Memorial services will be held in the First Presbyterian Church in Wooster on Sunday, December 18th at 2:00 p.m. Custer-Glenn Funeral Home in Wooster is privileged with serving the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Habitat for Humanity in Wayne County (1451 Spruce St., Wooster, Ohio 44691), or Pleasant Hill Outdoor Center (4654 Pleasant Hill Rd., Perrysville, Ohio 44864)

Marjorie A. Beane

December 18, 1930 - December 3, 2011