Marilyn Ruth Williams, born on October 12, 1932, passed away peacefully at Cornerstone Hospice Mariposa House in The Villages, Florida on November 25 , 2019.

Marilyn was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attended Bayview High School. She went on to study at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois and later completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, graduating Magna Cum Laude.  She did additional post graduate work at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1987. After receiving her degree she taught fourth , fifth , and sixth grade in Ida Grove, Iowa and also taught first grade in Clinton, Michigan.

She married her high school sweetheart, Ralph James Ratzlaff on September 11, 1954.  Marilyn was a proud and dedicated pastor's wife for 25 years serving churches in Watertown, Wisconsin, Schleswig, Iowa and Chelsea, Michigan.

She loved tutoring children, music, dancing, traveling, watching movies, reading Danielle Steele novels, being active in the church and serving God by example. Her joy came from seeing her children and her granddog "Millie".

Marilyn was widowed three times and was proceeded in death by her husbands; Rev. Dr. Ralph J. Ratzlaff  on February 22, 1985, Jim Williams on October 18 , 1990 and Tom Vailliencourt on December 15 , 2000.  She also was proceeded in death by her granddaughter, Amber Reineck, on December 24, 2015.

Marilyn is survived by her five children with Ralph Ratzlaff; Debra (Ken) Martin of Lacona, Iowa, Becky (Gary) Mayo of Lady Lake, Florida, Kurt (Sandy) Ratzlaff of Clermont, Florida, Ruth (Kevin) Jaynes of Hamilton, Ohio and Laura (Zach) Johnson of Ypsilanti, Michigan.

She leaves behind 14 grandchildren; Merrie (Ed) Putz, Michelle (Nathan) Princehouse, Mandy (Josh) Schneider, Matthew Martin, Courtney (George) Atsalakis, Ben (Caroline) Mayo, Joel Mayo, Corrie (Jeremy) Collins, Alexis (John) Gibson, Lindsey (Jeremy) Wright, Caitlin (Nick) Pelzer, James (Cambria) Ratzlaff, Ryan Ratzlaff, 16 great grandchildren and many cousins.

In lieu of a funeral service, the family will gather in Lady Lake, Florida on January 10, 2020 for a Celebration of Life dinner, and again on Mother's day, May 10, 2020 at Covenant Church in Chelsea, Michigan to intern her ashes next to her husband, Rev. Ralph Ratzlaff.

Two non-profit charities have been designated for donations in Marilyn's memory.  The Amber Reineck House is a non-profit that seeks to educate and reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder and support sober living homes. It was founded in memory of Marilyn's granddaughter, Amber Reineck.  Donations can be sent to P O Box 510, Hamburg, MI 48139 or online at www.amberreineckhouse.org

Cornerstone Hospice provided the end of life care for Marilyn and truly were angels walking on earth ensuring that she was comfortable and at peace as she transitioned to heaven.  Donations can be sent to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778 or online at web.cshospice.org/foundation/giving