Marilyn Helen Crofford of Mechanicsville, Maryland, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on September 9, 2024. She was 90 years old.
Born on August 3, 1934, in Toms River, New Jersey, Marilyn was the eldest of three children born to Edward and Margaret Schwinge. She grew up not far from the boardwalk and loved Saturday outings to the beach with her family. Sundays and Wednesday evenings found her at First Baptist church, where at a young age she made the decision to follow Christ. Marilyn played the piano, and at church often accompanied the hymns. Following one Wednesday prayer meeting, she struck up a conversation with Don, a handsome young sailor visiting from the nearby naval base. Their ongoing courtship was mostly through letters sent from Japan, where Don was stationed. One day, an envelope arrived. Inside, Marilyn found an engagement ring! Don and Marilyn married in June 1953, beginning a 70-year adventure that included raising six sons. Over her kitchen sink hung a ceramic plate that read: “Before I got married, I had six theories about raising children. Now I have six children, and no theories.”
Marilyn was an excellent student. After graduating from high school, she worked as a secretary, distinguishing herself by her fluency in shorthand. Her secretarial skills landed her jobs across the years, culminating in a decade of distinguished service for two attorneys in Rochester, New York. When not cooking or baking for her family, she was an avid reader, mostly of history and biography.
Music played an ongoing role in Marilyn’s life. She sang alto in several church choirs. In addition, she was the driving force behind the success of “The Croffords,” a family gospel singing group that performed in the ‘70s and ‘80s. With boundless energy, she corresponded with pastors, arranging for concerts and mailing promotional posters. She outfitted her husband and sons in the fashion of the day, making sure shoes were polished, shirts ironed, and leisure suits dry cleaned. For a time, she delivered short inspirational “talks” during the concerts, sharing insights on motherhood and faith.
Marilyn was an achiever and instilled that value in her sons. She often accompanied them on the piano as they sang a solo or played the trumpet in church talent competitions. Marilyn also believed in the value of memorizing Scripture, coaching winning teams in children’s Bible quizzing. She invested hours listening to her sons – and later, her grandson, Daniel – quote chapters of the Bible, preparing them for the next teen quiz tournament.
Always looking for ways to connect with others, Marilyn loved playing cards, especially “Chicago Rook.” Her love language was food, and she baked special treats when visiting with friends and family. Football season surprisingly became her favorite time of the year, and she never missed a chance to cheer on her beloved Carolina Panthers. Sometimes, she called her sons or grandkids to chat about the latest game.
Later in life, Marilyn blossomed as a caregiver. For several years, she lovingly cared for her aging mother at-home. More recently, she faithfully supported her husband during multiple surgeries and hospitalizations, bringing him comfort through her meticulous attention to care details, coaching him back to health.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her father, Edward, her mother, Margaret, her brother, Edward, and her husband, Don. She is survived by her sister, Joyce (Richard), her sons, Dave (Cindy), Mark (Wendy), Greg (Amy), Todd (Diane), Jay (Jackie), Chad (Rebekah), a nephew (Jason), and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be placed to rest with her beloved husband at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery.