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In memory of
Marcia Henderson Pendleton
June 25, 1926 - January 6, 2019
Jun 25, 1926 - Jan 6, 2019
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In lieu of flowers
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to General Church of the New Jerusalem • P.O. Box 743 • Bryn Athyn, PA 19009..
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Marcia's obituary
The last surviving child of Albert Dean Henderson and Margaret Gyllenhaal of Glenview, IL and the last Gyllenhaal descendant of her generation, Marcia grew up in Glenview and attended the Immanuel Church School, where she earned the Theta Alpha Medal. She attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL before enrolling in the Academy of the New Church Girls School in Bryn Athyn, PA, graduating in 1944. She worked for her uncle’s business, Swain Nelson Munitions during the last summer and fall of World War II. After attending the Evanston School of Nursing, Evanston, IL, she became a Registered Nurse upon graduation in 1948. Blessed with prodigious hand-eye coordination Marcia was a gifted tennis player, who played from the time she could hold a racket until the time she couldn’t.
Marcia married high school classmate, Lawson Pendleton in 1949 and they moved to Chapel Hill, NC, where Lawson completed course work for his PhD at the University of North Carolina.
They moved to Bryn Athyn in the fall of 1955 when Lawson joined the Academy of the New Church faculty, Bryn Athyn, PA. After Lawson was awarded his Ph.D., Marcia accompanied him to various other teaching and administrative posts in academia including Westminster College and Stanford University. When Lawson became a college president (Philadelphia University and Urbana University), Marcia took an active role in working with students, faculty and staff at each location. She also continued in nursing at almost every stop along her journey -- at skilled nursing facilities, in retirement homes, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and for private individuals in their homes.
After they retired from academia, Lawson and Marcia moved to Woodbridge, VA where Marcia was active in Al-anon Family Services and as a docent for the Occoquan Museum and the Occoquan Historical Society. They retired and moved to the Cairnwood Village retirement home (Bryn Athyn, PA) in 1999. In her early years at Cairnwood, she enjoyed helping her niece and nephew, Alison and Ottar Larson, in their gift fulfillment business and being around her friends, classmates and relatives--in other words, all of Bryn Athyn.
Marcia leaves son Alan [Andrea] of Arlington, VA; daughter Jennifer [Tom] Redmile of Charlotte, NC; son Nathaniel of Monterey, CA; six grandchildren: Adam, Nicholas [Ina], Mark [Colleen] and Jesse [Bronwyn] Johnson, and Rebecca [Francisco] Ramirez and Anders [Barbara] Pendleton, two step-grandchildren Jared (Naomi) and Ryan; and 15 great-grandchildren and many loved nieces and nephews.
Marcia donated her body to science through the Human Gift Registry. A memorial service will be announced later.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Marcia’s name in the form of an online donation to The General Church of the New Jerusalem at newchurch.org/give or by mailing a check in Marcia’s name to General Church • P.O. Box 743 • Bryn Athyn, PA 19009.
“Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised.”
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In lieu of flowers
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to General Church of the New Jerusalem • P.O. Box 743 • Bryn Athyn, PA 19009..
Memories & condolences
Aunt Martian was a great "Granny" to my kids. We spent many happy outings and holidays with her ! Her ever present …
Aunt Martian was a great "Granny" to my kids. We spent many happy outings and holidays with her …
Aunt Martian was a great "Granny" to my kids. We spent many ha…
In lieu of flowers
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to General Church of the New Jerusalem • P.O. Box 743 • Bryn Athyn, PA 19009..
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Created with love by
Alan Pendleton.
