Obituary of Marilyn B. Wittmeyer

Marilyn was born in Sioux City, Iowa, July 11, 1925 and passed away May 27, 2009 at the age of 83. Her parents were Walter Bruce and Edith Anderson Bruce. In 1930 her mother died and Marilyn and her father and sister, Beverly, moved to Hot Springs, SD to live on her grandparents farm. She attended schools in the Hot Springs area until the end of her sophomore year and then moved to Seattle with her father. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1944. Working part-time she attended the UW and earned her BA in 1948. She married her first husband, Harold Johnson in 1951 and after commuting to the College of Puget Sound, earned a Certificate of Occupational therapy in 1953. From then until 1960 she worked for the Washington State Dept. of Labor and Industry. In June, 1961 her husband died just as he was completing his first year of teaching at Whitman Jr. High. From 1960 to 1990, Marilyn worked as an occupational therapist at the Rehab Department at the University of Washington Hospital and retired with the title of Manager, Occupational and Recreational Therapies and Engineering Application. She made many contributions to her field in workshops, articles, papers and seminars in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and Ecuador. In 1963 she toured Europe for several months. She married husband Keith in 1964 and they made many trips together including safaris to Tanzania and Kenya in 2000 and 2001. They had many pets, cats and dogs, trained their dogs in obedience, novice, open, utility and tracking. Both taught obedience classes for many years for Washington State Obedience Training Club.After retirement Marilyn became a docent at Woodland Park Zoo and later a Master Gardner as well. She is survived by her husband, Keith; sister, Beverly (Ted) Santel of Hayward, CA; nieces, nephews and cousins. Her husband is very appreciative of the excellent care Marilyn received in many months residence at Anderson House and the support of the nurses of Group Health Hospice program. Donations in Marilyns memory may be given to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, or Alzheimer Association.