Marion was born in New Bedford, MA on May 28, 1918 to William and Sarah Robertson. She had one older brother, Campbell. While she was quite young, the family moved to Philadelphia where she spent most of her growing years. Early on she showed a strong aptitude for the sciences. In 1939 she graduated from Beaver (now Arcadia) College with a degree in Biology and Chemistry, after a three-year program of study. Following graduation, she worked in a laboratory for Sharp and Dohme that was producing the Smallpox vaccine. It was rather unusual for women to be employed in the sciences at this time, and Marion was the only woman working in the laboratory during this period.
Marion married Donald William Kuester on June 21, 1947. Previously, they had gone on an arranged blind date, but then realized they had already met. The couple settled in Hyattsville, MD. Marion worked for Bell Telephone Company, until their children, Lynda, Don, and Bruce were born. Her husband, Donald, was lost at sea in 1963 when the submarine USS Thresher sank. He had been aboard working as a civilian engineer testing sonar and acoustic dampening material, which he developed while working for The Naval Ordnance Laboratory in White Oak, MD. Marion continued to raise her family on her own, often substitute teaching in the Lewisdale Elementary School where Bruce and Don were students. During this period, she attended the New Hampshire Avenue Chapel and served as the church organist. She drew much strength and support from the Military Wives Prayer Group at this time, which she attended in Washington DC. She forged many friendships which were to last a lifetime among the women in this group. She was known affectionately by her friends as 'Pat'. She loved to travel, and had many trips all over the world. Eventually, Marion began attending The National Presbyterian Church in Washington DC, where she remained until she moved to Minneapolis in November 2012. However, she continued to “attend” services via her iPad even after her move.
Marion was pre-deceased by her brother Campbell, her sister-in-law, Frances, and nephew, William Robertson. She was a cherished mother to Lynda (Lowell) Lankford of Minneapolis, MN, Don (Marsha) Kuester of Wheaton, MD, and Bruce (Elizabeth) Kuester of Silver Spring, MD. She was the much loved grandmother of Heather Lankford Huck, James Lankford, Trevor Lankford, and Blake Lankford of Minneapolis, MN; Andrew Kuester of Wheaton, MD and Evan Kuester of Baltimore, MD; Timothy Kuester of Virginia Beach, VA and Olivia Kuester Yen of Fayetteville, NC. She was also the loved great grandmother of ten great-grandchildren, known to them as ‘GG’. Marion went into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Monday, July 8, 2019. She has left behind a legacy of a strong faith in Jesus, and great love for her family, and her country. She will always live in our hearts and be remembered with much love.
Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me, shall live even if he dies
And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. John 11:25
To coincide with the USS Thresher Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Dedication, services for Marion will be held at The National Presbyterian Church, Chapel of the Presidents in Washington D.C. on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 10 o’clock in the morning.
Memorial Gifts may be made to The USS Thresher Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Project at ThresherMemorial.org.
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