Obituary of Marilyn B. Witmer
Marilyn Witmer, Mother of Six Turned Educator, Dies at 93
Marilyn “Lynn” Witmer, an educator and dental hygienist, died peacefully December 30, 2021 at her home in Cheektowaga, NY. Her death followed a short battle with cancer. She was 93. She celebrated Christmas with a number of grandchildren a few days earlier. A celebration of her life for family and friends will be held in Alden NY later this Spring.
Born Marilyn Booth in 1928, in Buffalo, NY, Lynn graduated from Amherst High School in 1946. After marrying John T. Witmer Jr., of Williamsville in 1947, and raising six children in Alden NY, she returned to college in 1969 and earned an AAS degree at Erie Community College in 1971, a teaching certificate in 1971, and a BS in Health Sciences Education in 1979 from UB, where she also taught for two years. She was an early advocate for preventative dentistry and helped a number of dentists in private practice reorient their practices toward this goal with education on nutrition and proper care.
She and her husband were avid ballroom dancers and won several local competitions. They were also active Nordic skiers and members of the Edelweiss Ski Touring Club for many years, touring the US, Europe and Canada.
Following her husband’s death in 2005, she moved from the family home to Cheektowaga and was a Club Master with the Buffalo Bridge Center. She continued ballroom dancing with a new partner, her dear friend Mr. Jeffrey Thier, well into her eighties.
The light of her life was her six children, 21 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and one great great grandson, born the month Lynn died. Her list of the immediate family birthdays she observed included 71 names as of 2019. She is survived by her children John (Karen) Witmer III of Carlsbad, CA; Pamela (Stuart) Mason of Glenville, PA; Michael Witmer of Claremont, CA; and Jennifer (Paul) Norris of Alden, NY. She was predeceased by her son Christopher (Hiroko) Witmer of Tokyo, Japan and Danielle (John) Garas of Clarence, NY.
Donations may be made in her memory to Hospice & Palliative Care, Buffalo,
Www.HospiceBuffalo.com.
