The Life of GRACE MARILYN WATKINS BOLTON
Grace Marilyn Bolton passed away in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, on December 7, 2010. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, December 16, 2010, at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery in Des Moines. Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hamilton''s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th in Des Moines.
Grace was born on March 22, 1924, to Earl and Nellie Watkins in Knoxville, Iowa. When she came into the world she was welcomed by two older sisters. When the family moved to Pershing, Iowa, nine years later, it had grown to include two more girls and three boys. Much time was spent attending church, reading, playing musical instruments and singing, and playing softball with neighbor kids.
Grace, who preferred to be called Marilyn, graduated from Attica High School in 1941. The family moved to Des Moines in the fall of that year. Marilyn attended Pasadena Nazarene College, and then worked at military bases in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Barstow, California.
She and Hunter Bolton were married in June of 1967. His home before military service had always been in Montana, but after living there a short time Marilyn found she could not stand the Montana winters! They moved south to Prescott Valley, Arizona, and then finally settled in Quartzsite, Arizona.
Serving the Lord always came first, but love of music also directed their paths and plans. There were jam sessions with friends and neighbors in Hunter''s specially built music room and regularly scheduled music nights in the town''s QIA Building, where Marilyn often got standing ovations when she sang solos and Hunter frequently directed his Harmonica Band. She also enjoyed writing song lyrics and poems, some of which have been published.
From 2004 until her death on December 7, 2010, Marilyn lived in care centers in Blythe, CA, and Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Survivors include her faithful, loving husband, Hunter; her sisters Helen Baiotto, Eldred Toigo, Dorothy Dreyfus, and Connie Snyder; her brother Donnie Watkins, sisters-in-laws, Gisela Watkins and Lola Watkins; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, David and Larry Watkins.
Grace was born on March 22, 1924, to Earl and Nellie Watkins in Knoxville, Iowa. When she came into the world she was welcomed by two older sisters. When the family moved to Pershing, Iowa, nine years later, it had grown to include two more girls and three boys. Much time was spent attending church, reading, playing musical instruments and singing, and playing softball with neighbor kids.
Grace, who preferred to be called Marilyn, graduated from Attica High School in 1941. The family moved to Des Moines in the fall of that year. Marilyn attended Pasadena Nazarene College, and then worked at military bases in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Barstow, California.
She and Hunter Bolton were married in June of 1967. His home before military service had always been in Montana, but after living there a short time Marilyn found she could not stand the Montana winters! They moved south to Prescott Valley, Arizona, and then finally settled in Quartzsite, Arizona.
Serving the Lord always came first, but love of music also directed their paths and plans. There were jam sessions with friends and neighbors in Hunter''s specially built music room and regularly scheduled music nights in the town''s QIA Building, where Marilyn often got standing ovations when she sang solos and Hunter frequently directed his Harmonica Band. She also enjoyed writing song lyrics and poems, some of which have been published.
From 2004 until her death on December 7, 2010, Marilyn lived in care centers in Blythe, CA, and Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Survivors include her faithful, loving husband, Hunter; her sisters Helen Baiotto, Eldred Toigo, Dorothy Dreyfus, and Connie Snyder; her brother Donnie Watkins, sisters-in-laws, Gisela Watkins and Lola Watkins; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, David and Larry Watkins.