Posted on 09/16/2018
Marrilyn Jean Bagby died peacefully on July 29, 2018 at her home she shared with her daughter, Lyn Carol Reppert, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Marrilyn was born to Garland and Florence Black in El Paso, Texas in 1924. She attended college in upper state New York. In September 1943, she married Robert Gray Bagby, a new Ensign, upon his graduation from the US Naval Academy in June 1943. They shared 47 years together through his career service as an officer of the US Navy. Robert passed away in 1990 after a long illness with cancer. Four children were born to them; Susan Marguerite, Stephen Gray (who died at the age of 4 years), Lyn Carol, and Elizabeth Jean. Throughout their early marriage years, Robert was frequently called away by his country to duties as a Naval officer. Marrilyn carried much of the early childhood raising of her daughters. In later years, she enjoyed reading, playing tennis, and supporting and fostering her daughters' educations and interests. She and Robert were also able to enjoy together friends and family fun, gatherings, and celebrations. They enjoyed their retirement years from 1973 in Annapolis, and they especially enjoyed a 'new parenthood' in sponsoring the first women plebes admitted to the US Naval Academy. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved Robert, her son, Stephen, and her brother, Garland Black II. She is survived by her daughters, Susan Kluth, Lyn Carol Reppert, and Elizabeth Thompson. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Vanessa Land, Christopher Kluth, Stephen Reppert, Dean Reppert, Hope Thompson, Nathan Thompson, Melodie Thompson, and Bonnie Thompson Lopez. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren. A memorial Service will be held at John Taylor Funeral Home on Friday, September 21, 2018 at 11:00 AM. A light lunch will be served. At 2:00 PM, an interment will be held at the US Naval Academy Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the National Wildlife Federation, where donations can be made online, or to a favorite animal shelter.
John M. Taylor Funeral Home
147 DUKE OF GLOUCESTER ST
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 263-4422
Published in The Capital Gazette on Sept. 16, 2018