Marilynn Hope Meinke

Marilynn H. Meinke, 99, died Thursday, October 12, 2023 in Albuquerque, NM after an extended period of declining health. Marilynn was born and raised in Troy, NY, received her B.S. in chemistry from Russell Sage College (NY), and a Master's degree in chemistry from Oberlin College (OH). Following graduation, Marilynn headed west with her husband, Wayne, and spent several years working as a senior technician in biochemistry with Melvin Calvin, future Nobel laureate, at the University of California, Berkeley. 

Marilynn and Wayne then moved to Ann Arbor, MI, where he accepted a faculty position at the University of Michigan, and she focused on raising two young children, volunteering for school and church programs, and welcoming families of international students. Marilynn later moved with her family to Bethesda, MD, where she enjoyed the cultural diversity of Washington, DC, interspersed with regular trips to Bethany Beach, DE. She and Wayne later moved back to Ann Arbor, and then Bethesda again, before retiring to Albuquerque in 1991, where Marilynn was an active and caring member of La Vida Llena retirement community. 

Once her children were grown, Marilynn established a successful career in chemical and medical information processing, editing, and abstracting, largely for projects overseen by the Walter Reed Medical Center, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Library of Medicine. She was an avid naturalist, bird watcher, and gardener, and maintained lifelong interests in social and environmental issues, classical music, international travel, Presbyterian Church activities, and indigenous cultures of the American southwest. 

Marilynn was predeceased by her husband, W. Wayne Meinke, and brother, Hugh R. Hayward. She is survived by her loving family: daughter, Sue Walters (LeRoy) of Rockville, MD; son, David Meinke (Deborah) of Fairway, KS; four grandchildren, David Walters of Gaithersburg, MD, Robert Walters (Christine) of Baltimore, MD, Laura Simmons (Michael) of Bentonville, AR, and Scott Meinke (Kate) of Kansas City, MO; and four great-grandchildren. The family is especially grateful for the care Marilynn received while in the Mi Casa unit of La Vida Llena.

A memorial service will be held Friday, November 17 at 1:30 pm in the chapel at La Vida Llena Retirement Community in Albuquerque.