Marion Elizabeth Cuddeback

May 15, 1925 - September 5, 2019

Marion Elizabeth Cuddeback, age 94, of Washington, Iowa, died Thursday, September 5, 2019, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington, Iowa. Celebration of life services will be held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at the West Chester United Methodist Church with Rev. Melissa Warren and Chaplain Andrew Zuehlke officiating. Calling hours will begin noon Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for the West Chester United Methodist Church or Hospice of Washington County. Online condolences may be sent for Marion’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Marion Elizabeth McDowell was born May 15, 1925, in Frenchburg, Kentucky, the daughter of Merl Hassler McDowell and Elda Edna (Sprunger) McDowell. She attended school in Frenchburg until her family moved to West Chester, Iowa in 1938. She graduated from West Chester High School in 1943. She furthered her education at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas and later at Parsons College and the University of Iowa where she graduated with a degree in education. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Ray Cuddeback on May 28, 1946, in the family home in West Chester. Before her marriage and while Kenneth was serving in the Army, Marion taught at Shiloh, a one room school south of Washington. After their marriage Marion was a farm wife and mother before going back to college and earning her four year degree. She later taught at Willow Grove, a one room school north of Kalona, at Washington Township, and finished her teaching career at West Chester Elementary until it closed in 1981. Marion was a member of the West Chester United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir, participated in Bible studies, helped with the annual Election Night Supper, was very active in the United Methodist Women, and had many, many friends. She served on the board of the West Chester Heritage Association. She attended the neighborhood Friendly Circle Club until moving to the United Presbyterian Home in 2012. For years she helped care for her grandchild, Shone Cuddeback and also invited a former student, Vicky Porter Guillen, into her home for several years. She dearly loved spending time with her grandchildren. Marion is survived by her son Jim (Jane) Cuddeback of Washington, IA; son, Larry (Kathy) Cuddeback of Brighton, IA; daughter, Janet (Steve) Sharpe of Matlock, WA; eight grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; sisters, Alma Margaret “Peggy” McDowell Parcell of Lockridge, IA; and Esther Marie “Pat” McDowell Varner of Towanda, KS. She was preceded in death by her parents, Merl and Elda McDowell; step mother, Ruth Leet McDowell; husband, Kenneth in 2000; brothers, John, Merl and David McDowell; and sisters, Jane McDowell Leet, Edna McDowell Estep and Elda Ruth McDowell Lorah.