Marlene Collins Showalter, 81, of Broadway Virginia, passed away peacefully at VMRC on March 2, 2022 with her husband, Donald, by her side.  Marlene was born on September 30, 1940 and was the daughter of the late Edward C. Collins and Edith Blough Collins.  She was also preceded in death by her sister; June Marie Weaver and her brother, Dr. Robert E. Collins.

After graduating from Eastern Mennonite University in 1962, she continued her studies with a Master's Degree in mathematics from James Madison University and a PhD (ABD) in Educational Psychology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She taught in the Rockingham County public schools and at James Madison University.

On August 8, 1964, she married Donald E. Showalter of Broadway.  She is survived by her husband and three children, Carl G. Showalter II, of Los Altos, CA, Anne L. Showalter, of Chapel Hill, NC and Philip E. Showalter, of Lynchburg, VA and six grandchildren: Alexander Showalter, Andrew Showalter, Maxwell Wieboldt, Ella Showalter, Madison Wieboldt and Katherine Showalter, and a brother; Ronald Collins. She was a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother.

In addition to being an avid reader and gardener with a particular love for dahlias, Marlene was an accomplished athlete who won numerous golf and tennis championships. Her passion for travel led her to explore India, the United Kingdom (60 gardens), Canada, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand, to ski the most challenging slopes in Austria, Switzerland and the Western United States, and to visit her grandchildren in Lynchburg, Belgium and California. To celebrate thier 50th wedding anniversary, Marlene and Donald took their children and grandchildren to the Galapagos Islands.

Marlene attended Park View Mennonite Church, where she served as Chairman of the Church Counsel, a Sunday School Teacher and a mentor.

The family requests that all flowers are sent to Park View Mennonite Church (1600 College Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802) for the memorial service, which will be held at the church at 2:00 on Saturday, March 19 (masks recommended), followed by a celebration of life at Spotswood Country Club. Burial will be private at Trissels Mennonite Cemetery near Broadway. The memorial service will be live streamed at http://www.pvmchurch.org/ .

Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Village Library in Broadway, Blue Ridge CASA for Children, Plecker Center for Community Philanthropy, 317 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 or the Eastern Mennonite University Bach Festival, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.