Marlene Himes Wilmoth Denniston

Marlene Himes Wilmoth Denniston passed away on October 11, 2026, at the age of 93. She was born in the “beautiful white farmhouse” on April 23rd, 1933, in Montrose, West Virginia – Randolph County just outside of Elkins – to Ford Eugene and Mary Helen Wilmoth. Ford was a driver with Reynolds Bus Line and Mary Helen was an organist at the Orlena Methodist Church.

As a young child she was enveloped within the love of family, the church, nature, and her community which would serve as her core passions throughout her life. She grew up on the large family farm three miles outside of town and took full advantage of wandering the hills and fields – much of the time with her dog Pokey and her uncle, Don Himes. She would help bring the cows in for milking and loved riding the hay wagon into the barn. One of her favorite memories of the farmhouse was the long porch running across the front of the house with a swing on the end.

She attended King’s Summit School, a small two-room schoolhouse a short walk up Leading Creek and past the mill, through the second grade. From the third grade through eighth she attended the Central School Building in the town of Elkins by taking the bus route her father drove. It was there she would become a cheerleader and meet one of her best friends, Hilda Pennington. She entered Elkins High School in 1947 and would join the marching band, participate in theater performances, become the Girl’s Athletic Association President and Senior Class Vice President.

Her love for fashion found her working at Baer’s Dress Store in town and from there she pursued an administrative role at the Monongahela Power Company. She remained active in Elkins’ community festivals and parades and while marching down Davis Street caught the eye of her future husband, Donald Keith “Tom” Wilmoth – who was told to have said to his friend, “that is the girl I am going to marry.”

Marlene and Tom were married in 1955 at the First Methodist Church of Elkins. Two days later they drove across the country and settled in Long Beach, California, at her uncle David’s home. She worked as a buyer in the Controls and Guidance Division of the Whittaker Corporation which supplied equipment and technology to the aerospace and military industries. After a series of moves, the two bought a home in Whittier in 1964 where she had their two children, Scott Wesley and Christopher Ryan.

Her life was upended in 1975 with the sudden passing of her husband. She would spend the next ten years focused on raising her two boys primarily by being active in their school, in the Boy Scout program, in the La Mirada United Methodist Church, Little League, and in the neighborhood community. She would serve as PTA President, dress up as the witch “Griselda” for the Halloween school parade and carnival, dressed as Santa Claus and visited each classroom at Christmastime, directed the school talent shows, volunteered in the classroom, and was given an Honorary Service Award in 1979.

Marlene loved to see the world. She had driven across the United States five times before she was twenty-two. She got to spend time in New England and eat lobster in Boston. She cherished her time camping in Kernville, the Sierras and Big Sur, and loved to cross country ski in Mammoth. She got to see London, the White Cliffs of Dover, Paris, Amsterdam, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Venice, the Sistine Chapel, Isle of Capri, Pompeii, and Athens. And she was happy to return home and tend to her plants and garden.

In 1986, she married George Cook Denniston, Jr. and was blessed with a new family of five stepchildren – Ron, Kathy, Cindy, Linda, and Tim. She and George enjoyed driving to Nevada, and to Santa Barbara, and spending time in Dana Point. They took cruises to the Caribbean, and to Mexico, and Hawaii, and would fly back to West Virginia for her high school reunions.

The later years in life were devoted to her five grandchildren and ten step-grandchildren. She loved attending their sports activities, plays, birthdays, and taking them to Knott’s Berry Farm. The house was full of toys, she loved to cook and enjoyed decorating for the holidays. She was, however, dealt another loss with the passing of George in 2007.

Marlene was a joyful daughter, loving wife, and a devoted mother full of guidance and example. An example she set for her children that will be passed on for generations to come. Her legacy of caring, empathy, and nurturing will surely add to the tapestry of goodwill that makes up all our lives who have known her. She is survived by her two children, Scott and Chris; two daughters-in law, Kim and Kim; four of her stepchildren, Kathy, Cindy, Linda, and Tim; a step-son-in-law Glenn and a step-daughter in-law Pauline; five grandchildren Gavin, Cressa, Kreeley, Garrett, and Ginn; ten step-grandchildren Carrie, Jason, Lacey, Tricia, Scott, Bobby, Ryan, Vanessa, Christian, and Payton; and fifteen great grandchildren.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all whose lives she touched. Rest in peace.