In Memory
Marlyn Sue (Fall) Williams
September 10, 1935 ~ September 29, 2025
Marlyn passed away peacefully in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Monday, September 29, 2025 with her children by her side — just the way she would’ve wanted it.
Born in Lakeville, Indiana to Merl Fall and Verona Kinas, Marlyn was a proud farmer’s daughter and an only child. But if you asked her, she’d say she had hundreds of siblings — cousins scattered across the country who she loved like brothers and sisters. She brought many of them together through four epic family reunions in the '80s and '90s, showing that family was always at the heart of her world.
She grew up in South Bend, graduated from Riley High School, and married Charles “Chuck” Williams on March 29, 1958. Together, they built a life full of adventure, moving across the Midwest and raising three children along the way. Marlyn poured herself into motherhood, running a busy household until the mid-1980s when she decided to rejoin the workforce. She became a certified preschool teacher, earning her Childhood Development Associate (CDA) credential, and later worked at Michigan Fruit, Heath Corporation, and Whirlpool. She retired in 1995 and embraced her favorite role yet — grandma.
Chuck and Marlyn’s journey took them to South Bend, Kalamazoo, Port Huron, Elkhart, Muncie, Tekonsha, and finally to Three Oaks, where they spent more than 25 wonderful years. Chuck served as the River Valley school superintendent, and Marlyn became a familiar face in the community — active in the Three Oaks United Methodist Church, the River Valley School District, and the Three Oaks Community Loan Closet. Her side hustles included being an Avon salesperson and modeling in a local print ad. In retirement, they returned to South Bend, where Marlyn found joy volunteering as a reader at the local elementary school, sharing her love of learning with the next generation. Chuck and Marlyn had season tickets for the Notre Dame Women’s Basketball team and only had to drive about a mile to the home games.
Marlyn is survived by her three children: Jeff Williams (Beverly) of Greenville, MI; Dr. Lori Tagger of Haslett, MI; and Brett Williams (Tammi) of Chicago, IL. She was a proud grandma to six grandchildren: Dr. Lindsey (Callan) Sherd in Rockford, MI; Sarah (Florian) Kollment in Clermont, FL; Amanda (Tyler) Firlit in Chicago, IL; Tyler, A.J., and MacKenzie Williams in Chicago, IL; and five great grandchildren. She never missed a chance to brag about them.
She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved Chuck in 2015 and now joins him in rest.
Marlyn lived a life full of love, laughter, and purpose. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit lives on in the stories she told, the family she cherished, and the lives she touched.
A memorial service will be held at Clay United Methodist Church in South Bend, IN on Monday, October 13, at 11:00 am with Rev. Sherri Swanson officiating. Visitation at the Church will be from 9-11 am. Interment will be at Southlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Early Childhood Program at Clay Church or a child-serving organization of your choice in Marlyn’s memory.
10/04/2025 djb
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