Marlys E. Charron

Marlys Elizabeth Charron, a resident of Clinton for the past 44 years, died June 26, 2014, at Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville at the age of 73. She was born January 11, 1941, in Valley City, N.D., to Albert and Elsie (Meyer) Bartz.

The Bartz family moved frequently, but settled in Fargo, N.D., where Marlys graduated from high school. She went on to Minnesota State University in Moorhead, Minn., where she received her bachelor’s degree in education. She became an art teacher at Manitou, Wis., for one year and then decided to venture west. She taught in a small Lewis County community near Chehalis, Wash., serving as an art teacher and also with the Head Start program.

Marlys was married to Harold Wieland in 1967, who was also a teacher. Together they served as foster parents to many children. They became foster parents to a young man, Carl Block, who they soon adopted.

Marlys and Harold made Clinton their home in 1970. Harold died in 1990.

Marlys was introduced to Ronald Charron, an electrical engineer from the Bay area of California. On Jan. 22, 1993, Marlys and Ron were married. Ron had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1985, but the symptoms were minimal. In 1994, Marlys and Ron set out in their fifth wheel on a 20-week tour of the western half of the U.S.

The following year, MS began to take hold of Ron and their travel adventures came to a halt. Ron became bedridden and was eventually confined to a nursing home in Oak Harbor. For several years, Marlys rode the transit from Clinton to Oak Harbor three days per week to spend the day with him. Ron died in August of 2006.

Marlys remained in her home until the last few days. She had been an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Clinton and most recently had been a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.

Marlys is survived by her son, Carl Block (Karli) of Mukilteo, Wash., and one brother, Albert Bartz (Solveig) of Moorhead, Minn. Marlys was preceded in death by her parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Jim Lindus officiating. Friends and family are encouraged to visit Marlys’ page in the Book of Memories hosted by Wallin Funeral Home at www.wallinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor, Wash.