Marilyn Ruth Waldrip

Marilyn Ruth Waldrip, 81, of Martinsville and a lifelong Morgan County resident, passed away peacefully at her home on the morning of July 21, 2024. She was born September 20, 1942, in Martinsville, to the late Robert and Freda (Arnold) Walls. 

Marilyn grew up in Brooklyn and was a proud graduate of Martinsville High School in 1961. She was an avid Artie, attending all her class reunions. Marilyn found herself a young widow when her beloved husband, William “Bill” Rodgers, died in 1971. With three young girls in tow, she became a very resourceful and hard-working lady. She worked as a machine operator for Nice Pak before attending Central Nine Career Center to learn about computers in an effort to secure a better job in the medical field. She worked in registration for the former Wishard Memorial Hospital and retired from Methodist Hospital.

Marilyn loved the outdoors – mushroom hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and was an avid gardener, taking meticulous care of her yard and flowers. Living a full and active life, Marilyn was always up for any adventure. She loved traveling, road trips, and an occasional trip to the casino. Her role as a grandmother and great-grandmother was one that she simply loved, never missing an event or any opportunity to create lasting memories with her family. Marilyn always looked forward to having her entire family together every Christmas when they would gather at her home. Her memory will be forever cherished by her loving family and many friends.

In addition to her parents and her first husband, she was also preceded in death by her second husband, Larry Waldrip; a great-granddaughter, Kyndra Schoolcraft; and siblings, Ellen Perkins, Delores Gilman, and Cecil Walls.

Survivors include her three daughters, Angela (Doug) Trusty, Sheila Bowles, and Julia (Dave) Zimmer; siblings, Ed (Kim) Walls, Russell Walls, Roviena (John) Wagner, Dorothy Hornaday, and James (Rosie) Walls; grandchildren, Christina Hudak, Blair (Brad) Cazee; David (Kayla) Zimmer, Darryl Zimmer, Jessica (Brandon) Kohr, Joshua Zimmer, and Dawson Zimmer; Whitney, Morgan, and Alescia Mathauer, and Tucker Bowles; thirteen great-grandchildren.

Marilyn’s Life Celebration® Visitation will be held at the Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, 39 E. High Street, Mooresville. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 12 Noon on Friday, July 26, 2024. Services will begin at Noon, followed by burial at Nebo Memorial Park, Martinsville. Pastor Chris Page will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to Hoosier Harvest Church. Visit www.CarlisleBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.