Marjorie Elaine Martin Coan, almost 97 years old, of Lake Ridge, VA, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2019.
Born May 25, 1922, Marjorie was the daughter of the late Leona Blanche Armstrong Martin, and Grady Leroy Martin. She grew up in Charlotte, N.C. with her sister Ruth Elizabeth Martin, and brother William Franklin Martin. In her late teens, she won the title of Miss Charlotte of North Carolina, and later became Miss North Carolina runner-up for the Miss America beauty pageant. At age 19, after completing her first year at Brevard College, N.C., she married the love of her life, George Pruitt Coan, Sr. Marjorie worked for seven years as an administrative secretary at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, until she became a professional mother to her three children, and a loving grandmother and great grandmother. She devoted herself to her family, sacrificing and working hard to provide love, care, and guidance throughout their lives.
She always loved children and thought they were the most endearing and precious gifts on Earth. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and always loved the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children”. She was very patriotic, courageous, and open to new ideas and growth. She had the highest respect for herself and others, was very elegant, gracious, and used the utmost manners and etiquette.
Marjorie is survived by her three children – Pamela Elaine Coan Epler, Barbara Standard, and Col. George Pruitt Coan, Jr., (US Army-Ret); seven grandchildren – Paige Laura Epler, Megan Standard, Jeffrey Standard, James Coan, George Coan, III, Kristine Henry, and Kathleen Deering; and eleven great grandchildren – Emerson, Kensley, Makenna, Bennett, Andrew, Oliver, Alexander, Xavier, Jake, Conner, and Tyler.
A funeral service will take place from 10 AM-11 AM at the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on
1400 G Street in Woodbridge, VA, 22191 on Friday, May 3, 2019. The viewing will occur just prior to the memorial service from 9:30 AM – 9:55 AM. A light lunch will be served 11:00-11:30 AM, followed by a funeral procession to the Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032 for the burial service.
If you wish, flowers can be brought to the funeral service at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, and will be transferred to the burial service. Donations, if you choose, can be made to the American Heart Association in Marjorie’s name. Just go to www.heart.org, donate now, make your gift a tribute, and complete the honoree’s name: Marjorie Coan. The email card can be sent to: [email protected]. The American Heart Association phone number is:1-800-AHA-USA1.
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