Marylin Louise Leininger

A beautiful woman of 88 years, Marylin, with family at her side, recently passed away after a lengthy decline.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Terry and Chuck Degenhardt of Meridian, Idaho, Richard and Paige Leininger of Puyallup, Wash., Steve and Cindy Leininger of Montgomery, Texas, Ron and Lisa Leininger of Marion, Texas, Ray and Cindy Gould of Atascadero, Calif.; 17 grandchildren: Nicole, Crystal, Matthew, Michael, Randy, David, Liz, Jason, Morgan, Lisa, Nikki, Allison, Nick, Alexandra, Candace, Jenna, and Stacy; 15 great-grandchildren: Madelyn, Athena, Dylan, Jaden, Charlette, Austin, Kali, Nixon, June, Cameron, Anthony, Zachary, Owen, Brayden, and Olivia; two great-great grandchildren: Tristan and Matteo Jr.

Marylin is also survived by her baby sister, Betty Hobbs; brother-in-law, John Hobbs of Nocona, Texas; brother, Jim Ames and his wife, Lydia, of Dodge City, Kan.; and brother, John Paul Ames, of Nocona, Texas.

Marylin was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Dick Leininger (2016); one newborn son, Donald Mark; her granddaughter, Bekah; and great-grandson, Moises.

Marylin grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, with a life full of playing with her younger sister, Betty; ice-skating in the streets; and being spoiled by her fun and nurturing father, James. While still in high school, Marylin met the love of her life, Dick Leininger, a young USAF Airman (1950-53). They married on March 27, 1952. They lived initially in Massachusetts and Texas, before putting down roots in Greenfield, Calif. (1958-1997); Glendale, Ariz (1997-2014); and finally to the San Antonio area for the rest of her life. Marylin always wanted to move back to where her heart was, which was Texas.

While in California and Arizona, Marylin ran a successful at-home sewing business. Her talent for sewing was remarkable and she was well known for her skill and love of sewing in the communities she lived in. She was also an avid canner of all the wonderful fruits and vegetables that grew in the Salinas Valley. Not to mention, she was known as "The Pie Lady" in the small community of Greenfield. If you were new at her church, she would deliver a pie to you.

Marylin was an intricate part of the Baptist and Pentecostal churches she was a member of and she supported many global and state-side missionaries. She was considered by many as an outstanding mentor, lay-leader, prayer warrior, and a servant-leader. Marylin loved to travel and encouraged her kids and grandchildren to travel and see the world. Marylin and Dick traveled extensively across the US and overseas. Marylin was a devoted wife and mother, and the loving matriarch of the family. Marylin loved well and is a great example of a life well-lived.

She will be missed but her family and friends take great comfort in knowing that she has been reunited with Dick and in loving company with the Lord. The family asks that memorial donations be made in her honor to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels (www.hopehospice.net)

Services for Marylin are being handled by Porter Loring Mortuary North (2102 N. Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232, 210-495-8221). Burial is at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78209, 210-820-3891).

Funeral on Aug. 26, 2022 will include a viewing from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Port Loring North followed by Graveside (Interment) at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Published in Salinas Valley Tribune · August 16, 2022