Obituary of Marion Baldwin Norris

MARION BALDWIN NORRIS, age 101, a resident of Rydal Park, died on September 17, 2014. She was the devoted wife of the late Zeno John Norris. Born in Newark, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Harbourne and the late Sara Halliday Baldwin. Marion graduated from George School in Bucks County and then received a B.A. in Psychology from Mt. Holyoke College. Her interest in mental health led to a career as Director of Psychiatric Social Work at a New Jersey State Hospital. While there she earned an M.B.A. from N.Y.U.'s Graduate School of Business Administration, but when World War II enlisted the services of so many of her generation, she joined the ranks of the Red Cross. She served as Assistant Field Director in charge of the Red Cross building and program at the Fort Dix Station Hospital. Upon his discharge from the service, she and her husband moved to Oreland, PA. Her community activities were many. She was active in the Parent-Teacher organizations, AAUW, and the Springfield league of Women Voters. She served as the 2nd President of the Oreland Woman's Club and President of the Mount Holyoke Club of Philadelphia from 1958-1960. Through volunteer work in the local schools, after moving to Rydal, she became interested in Education and enrolled at Temple University. She received a Master's degree in Education, majoring in Counseling. That led to 17 years as a Guidance Counselor at Olney High School. Widowed in 1973, she retired in 1978 and followed a dream of buying a house in Florida. A lover of the out-of-doors, she was able to be outside every day tending to her fruit trees and treading the golf course. While in Florida, she joined others in forming a new branch of AAUW and was associated with the AARP Tax Counseling for the elderly for over 10 years. She returned to Pennsylvania in 1994 to be closer to family and her old friends. She became a resident of Rydal Park at that time. She is survived by her daughter, Marthe Ladley of Lansdale, PA and by her son, Harbourne B. Norris of Santa Cruz, CA, in addition to four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 in the Auditorium of Rydal Park, 1515 The Fairway, Jenkintown, PA. Friends will be received after the service. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to P.E.O. Foundation, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312. Gifts received will be used to promote educational opportunities for women.