Marjorie A. (Theodore) Zent

Marjorie Ann Theodore Zent, age 95, passed away December 17 after a long, fulfilling life. Born January 17, 1928, in Seattle, Washington to the late Athan A. and Myrtle E. Theodore. Her father led the family in an active life, taking her and her three sisters and brother camping, fishing, and swimming in the Cascade Mountains. Her mother nurtured them in the Christian faith. Margie graduated from Ballard High School in 1945 and from Virginia Mason Hospital School of Nursing as an RN in 1948.

Soon she met a young sailor from Maryland, Maurice Zent. When he left the service, they married, and moved to Taneytown, Maryland. Five children followed and Margie embraced life as a stay at home mother. She served her church and community in numerous roles, never hesitating to say yes when asked to help. For her children she instilled a love of lifelong learning and she created a home with music and reading and the freedom to be creative. She made available a multitude of educational and extracurricular opportunities. She was dependable to a fault, except the one time she forgot to pick up son Ted after band practice, a lapse that bothered her for years.

To help put her children through college, Margie returned to nursing at Carroll County General Hospital where she worked for 22 years. Upon retirement she became an avid gardener and loved showing her plantings to visitors. Well into her golden years, she embraced an active life traveling the world with her sister Betty, line and ballroom dancing, playing violin in the Frederick and Hanover community orchestras, snorkeling at age 80, and ziplining at 84. Margie’s love of ice cream and avoidance of vegetables was no secret.

Faith in God was at her core and for over 70 years she was an active member of Messiah United Methodist Church. She was never happier, though, than when surrounded by her family.

We will miss her deeply. She is predeceased by her parents, sisters, and brother. Survivors include her five children–Teresa, John (Alice), Sheila, Stanford (Eglee), and Maureen (Tom Davis), her grandchildren–Jacob (Song) and Jack Zent, Lily (Doug Dows) and Grace Reed, Diego and Erick Zent, Theodore and Virginia Davis, and numerous nieces and nephews.

We are grateful for the loving care provided to her by Melissa, Debbie, Shawn, Heather, Christina, Theresa, and the wonderful staff at Bethania Home Care. In lieu of flowers and if you wish, please donate to Messiah United Methodist Church.

A service of celebration will be held on Saturday January 20, 2024 at 1:00pm at Messiah United Methodist Church, 20 Middle St.,Taneytown MD 21787.