Loving wife and mother, volunteer

Marjorie Jean Adams Case died peacefully on December 3, 2015 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. She was 93.

Marjorie, or “Dean” as many called her, was born on January 30, 1922 at Pomona Valley Hospital to Wilbur and Lillian Adams, longtime citrus ranchers in the Pomona Valley. She graduated from Pomona College and married L. William Case in 1942. After World War II, they moved into a house that they built in Claremont on old Cucamonga Avenue among the oak trees. The couple soon welcomed three children.

Mrs. Case was a homemaker as well as a part-time secretary for the floral department at the LA County Fair, and later worked at the Claremont Colleges for 15 years before retiring. A sense of community was very important to Dean. She was a member of the Pomona Congregational Church Fellowship group and then a member of the Claremont United Congregational Church. She was also a docent for Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and volunteered with the Pomona Heritage Society, at one point contributing an oral history on her life in the Pomona Valley.

Mrs. Case’s favorite pursuits were traveling and spending time with her two grandchildren. She was quite musical, playing piano and organ and enjoying show tunes. She spent time playing bridge and Scrabble, growing roses and collecting Bauer pottery and took great delight in watching the birds and sunsets.

Mrs. Case is survived by her daughter Ann Case Ryan of Colorado, her son James A. Case of Claremont, son-in-law Arthur J. Ryan and her grandchildren Robert W. Ryan and Katie A. Donohue of Colorado. She also leaves three great-grandchildren, Ryan Donohue, Brady Ryan and Josh Ryan.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 12 at 3 p.m. at Todd Memorial Chapel, located at 325 N. Indian Hill Blvd. in Claremont. It was Mrs. Case’s wishes that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in the name of her great-grandson Ryan Donohue to the FRAXA Research Foundation, 10    Prince Place, Ste. 203, Newburyport, MA 01950. For information, email info@fraxa.org.