Marlene Lou Maynard, 84, of Grafton, Ohio, went peacefully home to the Lord on September 17th, 2025, surrounded by family. Marlene was born in Switzer, West Virginia, on August 13th, 1941, as the daughter of the late Stolla and Della. She had a wonderful childhood and upbringing in Dunlow, WV, alongside her four siblings, Willis, Eloise, Gail, and Denny. She later moved to downtown Huntington, WV, with her girl friends Carol Sue and Judy, where she worked at a sewing factory. She would go on to talk about this time in her life of young womanhood with great fondness.

Marlene married the love of her life, the late Wendell Gary Maynard (1941—1993), on January 31st, 1965, in WV, and the newlyweds moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where Wendell started a job with Ford Motor Company. The couple would go on to welcome their two daughters, Lana and Lynda, who would both go on to be her steadfast caretakers throughout Marlene's later years.

Above all else, the most important thing to Marlene in life was her family. Her absolute pride and joy were her daughters, Lana (Tony Ferritto) of Valley City, Ohio, and Lynda (Martin Schubert) of San Diego, California, and her four beloved grandchildren, Lauren (Anthony Bova), Nicholas Ferritto, Zachary Schubert, and Kendall Schubert. Just when she thought this love couldn't be topped, Marlene became a great-grandma to Lucia Bova in 2023. She loved enjoying life with her dear partner of over 20 years, Rich Kinkopf, who became family to all of us and always will be. Her loving sisters, Eloise and Gail, were always by her side. She cherished all her extended family, including several nieces, nephews, and all the "great" generations that followed.

Marlene, best known as Grandma, was a spunky, strong-minded woman who was always on the move and dressed in a fashionable outfit. She was known for keeping a spotless home and yard filled with beautiful flowers and house plants, as she had quite the green thumb! She LOVED shopping and browsing at any and all stores, which resulted in a fabulous wardrobe and a well-decorated home. She also enjoyed many family vacations to Florida in their Winnebago, wintering in San Diego with her grandchildren, and in her later years, you could find her on trips with her best friend, Nellie Hawkins. Marlene had a love for bird-watching, country music, her home state of West Virginia, and Midway Baptist church.

Marlene's zest for life, shopping, and her love of family will live on through her two daughters, four grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Graveside service will be held on Monday, September 22, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Nesbett Cemetery in Grafton Township (State Route 57). Please meet at cemetery. Pastor Rick Keesee will officiate.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.laubenthalmercado.com. Arrangements entrusted to Laubenthal Mercado Funeral Home in Elyria.