Marion E. Whitman

ALBANY - Family matriarch, Marion Elaine Whitman (nee Lohr), age 92, passed peacefully in her sleep on Friday, March 21, 2025. Born on April 15, 1932, in Hancock County, WV, the first child of James and Mary Lohr. The oldest of 4 siblings, Marion was a born leader. Active in county and state 4-H as a child she went on to achieve high honors in high school graduating New Cumberland High School as Valedictorian in 1950 while serving as class and student council president. While there she played trumpet in the band and point guard on the girls' basketball team (later to her children’s giggles) while also finding time to be involved in Presbyterian church activities.

Following high school Marion worked in administration at Weirton Steel. During those days as a young working woman, she traveled with her girlfriends to the Pocono Mountains where she met the love of her life, the handsome clarinet player in the Vacation Valley house band, Frederick Thomas Whitman, Sr. A long-distance love story began as Fred returned to West Chester College to finish his music education degree. After his graduation, the two planned a winter wedding for February 20, 1954. Ten months later they welcomed their first child, Fred, Jr. A fulltime teaching job moved the young family from East Stroudsburg, PA to Metuchen, NJ and eventually East Brunswick, NJ where three daughters (Amy, Diane, and Gretchen) would join the crew. Marion found her true calling as family matriarch.

No surprise that this born leader would become a PTA president at local, county and state levels, be a founding member of Nativity Lutheran Church where she became the president of the Lutheran Women’s Fellowship. In her spare time (lol) she was a charter member of the East Brunswick Historical Society and founder/president of the East Brunswick History Museum. All of this led her to being named Citizen of the Year. How did she accomplish these achievements while being a stay-at-home mom and eventual part-time bookkeeper for several area business? Her Wonder Woman strength!

Always the number one cheerleader for her 4 kids and loving spouse, Marion became a widow at just 48 as she steadfastly supported Fred through his health problems related to juvenile diabetes. By 50 she had reinvented herself as an entrepreneur by moving to the Berkshires in Massachusetts and opening Staveleigh House B&B in Sheffield. Of course, she became involved in the community by joining Old Parish Congregational Church, its Women’s Fellowship, Missions Committe and the Sheffield Historical Society all of which she held officer positions.

She made a difference in so many people’s lives including those who cared for her in her last 4 years at Eddy Village Green at Beverwyck in Slingerlands, NY. Certainly, a favorite, Queen Marion would don her red lipstick, clip earrings, and put a smile on the faces of the amazing caregivers. The Whitman family is so grateful for the love and expert care she had been afforded.

Marion lived a long and fulfilling life rooted in love, strength, and unwavering devotion to her family. She was predecased by her parents, husband, brother James and sister Eleanor. Marion is survived by her children and spouses Frederick T. Whitman, Jr. (Diane), Amy M. Whitman (Gretchen Brown), Diane E. Burnett (Ken) and Gretchen L. Whitman (Mark Allen), 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. A celebration of life for family and friends is scheduled for Saturday April 26, 2025 at 2 pm in the Old Parish Church 125 Main St., Sheffield, MA. In lieu of flowers the family asks for you to make a difference in the world by volunteering your time like Marion did or make donations to support one of her favorite charities, the Old Parish Church’s Sheffield Food Assistance Program at P.O. Box 387, Sheffield MA 01257 or on-line at www.firstuccsheffield.org/sheffield-food-program