Marilyn Mueller

Marilyn, age 91, died November 11th, 2023 in Chambersburg, PA. Born Marilyn Lee Rohrs in Baltimore, MD on September 21, 1932, daughter of the late Mildred nee Corkran and Frederick W. Rohrs. Sister of Dick (Carl Richard), and the late Robert Rohrs. Marilyn attended Clara Barton HS focusing on commercial art. After graduating, she married Richard Mueller in 1951 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, where they raised their six children. She served the church and school in a variety of ways. She volunteered as teacher and art director for Vacation Bible Schools, and she was school librarian. She sang in the choir for most of her life - first at Emmanuel for 30 years, then Holy Nativity in Arbutus for over two decades, and finally in her later years, St. Lukes in Chambersburg. She often taught Sunday school and LifeLight Bible Study courses. Using one of her many unique talents, she labored year after year teaching and developing curriculum for special needs Sunday School classes for decades.  

At age 52, Marilyn graduated from college with an education degree and began teaching second grade and art at Emmanuel. She felt at home since all of her children, as well as many of her grand and great-grandchildren went through Emmanuel. She felt truly blessed to teach many of her grandkids when they attended. In addition to teaching art, she helped her students design and provide scenery for plays. She helped them enter many art competitions with multiple students becoming winners. Last but not least, she coordinated the Mathathon every year - raising thousands for St. Judes Children’s Hospital. After many years at Emmanuel, she later taught art for St. Timothy’s in Catonsville until she retired in 2007. Her students loved her and were blessed to have her as a teacher!  Her other efforts include working for years and years as a BARC leader & van driver for the special needs socialization group, “Sunny Roads.” She also volunteered as a driver and deliverer for Meals on Wheels for twenty years. And so much more. 

Throughout her life, she enjoyed using her artistic talents in all kinds of ways. She loved sewing - making clothes, curtains, costumes, table settings, banners for church, and basically anything. She was an avid crafter and beader. She made Chrismons, and taught many other crafters & beaders to make them for several decades.  She loved to create home-made calendars, birthday & other holiday cards, note card gift sets, and other artsy things for her friends, family and herself. She loved plants. She loved old movies, She loved to play bridge and played competitively, earning several points and stars. She enjoyed the Baltimore Symphony and held season tickets she shared with friends & family. She loved gift-giving, and her presents were so thoughtful. She often paid for memberships for her grandchildren to go to the Aquarium, Science Center, etc. She DID NOT like electronics or computers, and thought the best resource was her World Book encyclopedias - she’d rather read a book than a screen. 

Most of all, she loved her children, grandchildren and the great-grandchildren she got to meet. She spent most of her vacations traveling across the country to visit her many children in New Hampshire, Washington State, Virginia, or Maryland. She loved “traveling the world” and her trips included Montserrat, Alaska, vacations to Canada, and trips with her lifelong best friend Charlotte to Germany & Italy. Her last international trip was a cruise to the Panama canal with her late Aunt Dot. After retiring and moving to Luther Ridge, she remained active for years playing bridge, performing in play/acting club, and hosting holiday parties for neighbors. She loved taking care of her plants & bird feeders and watching her goldfinches, purple finches, and chickadees - but not those mean Starlings! She was curious, always asking questions, wondering why, and had a lifelong love of learning that she passed on.

She is survived by her brother, Dick Rohrs (& wife Patsy) of Seminole, Florida; her six children, Rick Mueller of Madison NH, LeeAnn Morin of Catonsville, MD (now Beverly Hills, FL), Dave Mueller of Catonsville, MD (currently Roanoke, VA), Paul Mueller (and wife Jeannine) of Sykesville, MD, Carol (and Sean Garvey) of Christiansburg, VA, and John Mueller of Olympia, WA. Grandchildren include Matthew, Sarah, and Julia Morin; Paul Mueller, Jr. (and wife Jackie); Rachel (and her husband Matt McMahon), Johanna Garvey; Brian Garvey (deceased) and Kara (and her husband, Matt Fleischer). Great-grandchildren include Nate Colon; Eli and Ella Mueller; Lucy, Colin, and Maddie McMahon; and Emma Duncan.  

Memorial service will be Saturday, December 2nd, 11am at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 929 Ingleside Ave, Catonsville, MD. Reception to follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations may be made in Marilyn's name to Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, or the charity of your choice.