Margaret V. Marchbanks

March 8, 1927 - June 30, 2014

Margaret Marchbanks, 87, known as Gretel to family and friends, died on June 30, 2014 at Regent Court Corvallis, Oregon. Her children were by her side. She is pre-deceased by her parents and husband. Gretel is survived by her children, Howard Marchbanks, Dru Marchbanks and her partner Carol Hoffmann, of Corvallis, Oregon, and Phil Marchbanks of Portland, Oregon. She is also survived by her sisters, Marianne Bloesch of Topeka, Kansas, and Heidi Johnson of Kenosha, Wisconsin. She was born on March 8, 1927 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Margaret and Edward Bloesch. She graduated from Oklahoma University where she was active in the Delta Gamma sorority. She worked as a social worker. On December 22, 1950, she married Donald L. Marchbanks M.D. They raised three children, Howard born in Hoxie, Kansas, Dru and Phil born in Hill City, Kansas and raised in Salina, Kansas. She was active in AAUW for many years. They later retired to Topeka, Kansas and enjoyed extended vacations in Waldport, Oregon. Gretel moved to Corvallis, Oregon in 2005. She was a member of the Chintimini Senior Center and an avid bridge player. The family will have a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Corvallis Caring Place, 720 NW 23rd St. Corvallis, OR 97330, where she lived for 5 years.