Marilyn Frances Parker

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marilyn Frances (Golden Baldino) Parker of Floral City, Fl. She entered her eternal home on February 23, 2024 in Ocala, Florida, at the age of 74, from a short battle with breast cancer; which she referred to as her "ticket to heaven". She was proud to make it past her seventy-fourth birthday before being diagnosed with cancer since many of her female relatives were diagnosed with it at much younger ages. Her enthusiasm as she prepared to go home to Jesus was inspiring to those around her.

She was born on May 28, 1949 in Manhattan, New York to Elton Hutchinson Golden and Marian Augusta (Horner) Golden and is survived by her brother Soaring (Elton Lawrence Golden) Bear and her sister Grace Eleanor (Golden Heneka) Buchanan.

Marilyn grew up in Washington Heights, N.Y., then Jackson Heights, NY. She attended P.S. 89 and Hunter College High School. She received her bachelors degree in Anthropology from NYU and her master's degree in Library Science with honors from Columbia University. She had spent most of her life living in New York.

She is survived by the love of her life, Charles (Charlie) Parker, Sr. who she married on July 4, 1985.

Her career included employment services, unemployment claims examiner, certified public librarian, bookkeeper, Etsy shop owner, and volunteered her time as an income tax assistant, as well as a poll worker every Election Day. She retired from the New York State Department of Labor. She attended Yorktown Assembly of God church in Yorktown Heights, NY for nearly forty years where she volunteered in many different areas, but a standout for many was her devotion and leadership in the church’s Missionettes girls’ scouting program. She was awarded the Missionettes’ Esther Award for her dedication to this ministry. After retiring to Floral City, Fl she joined her new church family at Connection Church of God in Inverness, Fl where she volunteered in many areas including greeting church attendees on Sunday mornings and leading both a food pantry ministry and Bible study group, among other areas of ministry. In her free time, she enjoyed sewing for herself and disadvantaged children, gardening, landscaping, tag sales, sharing her homemade Christmas cookies, traveling across the U.S., square dancing and fishing with Charlie, and walking with friends.

Marilyn is also survived by her extended family, nieces Patricia Ann (Heneka) Emord and Sandra Louise Heneka, her nephew William Forrest Heneka, cousins Glen (and Phyllis) Miller, Val (Miller) Long, Walter Ramstedt, Paul Ramstedt, Susan Ramstedt, and Artemis (Lambrow) Grammatis.

Many thanks to the entire staff at Brookdale Chambrel Pinecastle and the nursing staff from Hospice of Marion County for supporting her wishes for a comfortable death. Many thanks also must be given to Marilyn’s closest friends, which she referred to as her “A-Team” for all their love, support, and care during her time of need.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of her devotion to the food pantry ministries at both of her former churches, donations can be made in her honor to either Yorktown Assembly of God or Connection Church of God’s Benevolence Funds.