Marlene Petry

On June 14, 2022, Marlene Petry passed away peacefully holding her husband Jerry’s hand. She was 84 years old.

Marlene was born May 26, 1938 in Wayne, Michigan to William and Mary Jahnke. She graduated from Berkley High School in Berkley, Michigan in 1956. Marlene worked as a secretary at Bendix Corporation where she received a NASA Recognition of Service Certificate and where she met Jerry, who after watching her legs walk by his drafting table, just had to meet her. They married in 1964 in Royal Oak, Michigan and had four children. In 1981, the family relocated to Midlothian, Virginia where she worked with Jerry at their quick print business. Jerry always said the customers kept coming back because of Marlene, whose sweet, caring disposition everyone loved. Marlene was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at a young age and suffered for over 40 years with this painful disease that deformed her hands and feet. Many admired and commented on her strength, knowing she must be in constant pain, but never once hearing her complain. Marlene and Jerry were active members of the Church of the Epiphany, sponsoring Cambodian refugees, leading small group bible studies, and volunteering with children with disabilities. Later, they realized their dream of living in the mountains and moved first to Forest and then to Amherst, Virginia where they attended Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. Marlene loved to dance, always knew where the fish were biting, was a fashionista, enjoyed making new creations in the kitchen, cherished her cats and of course her family, who will miss her dearly.

Marlene is survived by her husband of 58 years, Gerald (Jerry), her four children, Leanne of Oceanside, CA, Christine and husband Eric of Raleigh, NC, Matthew and wife Mary Ann of Rockville, VA, and Nadine and husband Kevin of Woodbridge, VA, and her six grandchildren, Skye, Tyler, Zach, Maya, Owen, and Alyvia.

Please join us in celebrating her life on Saturday, July 30, 2022 . A visitation will be held at the Wells/ Sheffield Funeral Chapel at 828 Front Street, Lovingston at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service in the chapel at 11:00 a.m., and burial afterwards at St. George’s Cemetery at 7240 Scottsville Road, Scottsville.

 Arrangements by Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel, Lovingston, VA (434-263-4097).