Marlene Joan McMeans' Obituary
Marlene was born May 16, 1939 to Leland and Eunice Wood in Vinton, Iowa. She was a middle child, having one older brother and one younger brother. She graduated from Vinton High School and attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. She enjoyed journalism and worked at the Cedar Valley Newspaper.
As a feisty young woman, Marlene and two of her high school friends decided they wanted to go to Hawaii. They headed to California first and Marlene decided to stay a while with her cousin in Riverside, CA. She got a job working as a teller at Security Pacific National Bank. A friend’s brother told Eugene McMeans about this beautiful girl he knew. Eugene and Marlene had their first blind date, by phone, in November 1961. They were engaged on Valentines Day 1962 and married ten days later on February 24. Marlene despised the name Eugene and always referred to her husband simply as Gene or “Bunny”.
Marlene and Gene lived in the Colton, CA area most of their 62 years together. They raised three children in Grand Terrace and Reche Canyon, along with many animals both large and small. Marlene was involved in numerous clubs with Gene and the kids. These included Colton Junior Women’s Club, Grand Terrace schools PTA, Reche Canyon Riders, Reche Canyon Homeowners Secretary and co-manager of James Sullivan Mutual Water Co. just to name a few. She was also involved with her children as Cub Scout den mother, Colton Band Parents volunteer, Grand Terrace 4-H leader and Pony Club. Marlene was an avid tole painter for many years as well as an accomplished quilter. She loved RV’ing and took many extended trips throughout the United States, visiting her mother and brothers in Iowa and Texas and embarking on many great adventures with Gene and her family and friends.
Marlene became very active in church when she and Gene joined Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, CA. She was on the Church Senior Council, served as Bible Study Secretary and best of all, had the opportunity to be a Church greeter. She thoroughly enjoyed greeting members and visitors alike and welcoming them into the church family.
Marlene’s battle with cancer ended at her home surrounded by loved ones where she was welcomed to her heavenly eternal home by her Savior Jesus Christ. We will miss her dearly, but we know she will always be in our hearts and is now another precious angel we have to watch over us.
Marlene is survived by her husband Eugene (Gene); sons Jeff (Wendy) McMeans and Todd (Erin) McMeans; daughter Jill (David) Salgado; grandchildren Jeffrey (Sarah) McMeans, Adam (Ashley) McMeans, Calei Simpson, Molly Simpson, Ryan (Raquel) Salgado, Hayley Salgado, and Bryce (Taylor) Salgado; and great grandchildren Ezra, Julia, Rowan, Ryland and Wesley. And her brothers Richard Wood and Dennis (Muriel) Wood. Marlene was preceded in death by parents Leland and Eunice Wood and granddaughter Nicole McMeans. Services will be held on Thursday, April 11 at 1:00 pm at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland.
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