Marilyn R. Griffin, nee’ Vanderbush, loving wife, mother and social leader, passed away April 3, 2022 at Ventura County Medical Center. The cause of death remains to be determined. Marilyn fought hard until the end. She loved life, her family, community, and did not go easily. Marilyn is survived by her beloved husband Jack to whom she was married for over 65 years, daughter Christine, sons James and David, grandchildren Dustin, Rose, Madison, Ellie and Bridget, her sister Gloria and brother Al, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Bud, Cliff, and Vic.
Marilyn was born in May, 1936 in East Los Angeles. She grew up in Monterey Park and El Monte. She was the youngest child of Herman and Martha Vanderbush, whose families emigrated from Europe. Her father was a member of the Civil Air Patrol during WWII, which nurtured Marilyn’s lifelong love of America. Marilyn attended San Gabriel MissionSchoolinitially, and played with the Monterey Park Drum and Bugle Corps during her middle school years.
She met her sweetheart Jack during her first year at Mark Keppel High School. They began dating when Marilyn was 14 and Jack 15. They both knew they were made for each other. Marilyn was the Valedictorian of her class, graduating a year after Jack. They were married at age 20, while Jack attended Cal State Los Angeles and living in Monterey Park. Just prior to Jack’s graduation, Christine came along, and after a work related move to Ojai, she was followed by Jim and David. Marilyn was always a fierce protector of her children and looked after them very well.
After a year in Ventura, the Griffins bought their first home in El Monte in 1964. Marilyn worked outside the home as a bookkeeper and office manager, all the while raising the kids and running the household. She was with American Landscape for over 20 years. In 1971the family moved to Canoga Park, followed by another move three years later to Woodland Hills, where the kids grew up and left home. That prompted Jack and Marilyn to purchase their small farm in Fillmore in 1987, where they reside to this day. They ‘camped out’ in the garage while they renovated the entire house. Marilyn loved their home and was very proud of it. She enjoyed gardening, decorating, home improvements, working with Jack on eBay, doing her work with the Fillmore Women’s Club, and putting on fabulous dinners for her family. She would celebrate every family member’s birthday by cooking their meal of choice.
Marilyn was an extraordinary woman, wife, mother, and friend. We will all miss her wonderful cooking, her smile, selflessness, and her never-ending love.
A remembrance and celebration of her life is being held on April 23, 2022, 10:00 am at The Elks Lodge of Ventura, 2126 Knoll Drive, Ventura, CA 93003.
Flowers are welcome or please consider making a donation to the Fillmore Women’s Club in her name at: either: susandray@hotmail.com or www.fillmorewomensserviceclub.com/contact.