Marlene G. Walls

June 13, 1951 - September 16, 2021

Marlene Walls, 70 of West Lafayette, lost a difficult battle with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, passing away peacefully Thursday, Sept 16, 2021, with family by her side.

Foreshadowing a life spent faithfully in service of others, Marlene earned a Bachelor's in Social Work from Latrobe University, Melbourne, Australia in 1981. She worked as a Medical Social Worker at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon serving patients and their families on the cancer ward. When the family made their way to Indiana, in addition to raising two children, Marlene worked at Purdue University (from 1995 until retiring in 2017) at the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS) as Executive Assistant and Graduate Registration Advisor & Coordinator. Once again steadfast in her service of others, she played the role of surrogate mother to many students in need of scholastic guidance, an advocate, or simply a welcoming ear.

Upon retirement, she kept a busy schedule. Marlene completed the Master Gardener program at Purdue and maintained involvement in several social groups including a book club, walking group, gardening group and Purdue Retirees’ Association. She was renowned for her creativity with landscaping and flower gardens at home for which she received the West Lafayette Grow Greener Gardening award in 2019. Marlene was often found out in their yard, alongside her husband, immersed in conversation with neighbors and passersby while tending her many flowerbeds and shrubs. Her garden tours were a favorite pastime and owing to her impeccable planning and organization and tireless efforts proved to morph uniquely, week by week, throughout the year. In recent years Marlene’s most cherished pupil and gardening buddy was her grandson Oliver on whom she doted endlessly and taught as much as he might absorb. She was always 10 years younger in his company.

Marlene was a compassionate and strong, yet welcoming, personality with a penchant for defending those in need of voice or leadership. She had a strong moral compass guiding her actions and impacted many people in her pursuit of justice. She always spoke from the heart in defense of what she believed best. Marlene seldom chose the easy road and in doing so enjoyed a life that was meaningful and full of love.

In her memory and to honor her life of service to others, we have asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the CCF to support research toward effective treatments and patient assistance for others in their battle with bile duct cancer.