Marilyn (Skip) Smith Noll

Marilyn (Skip) Smith Noll , 91, passed away peacefully to be with our Lord and Savior on June 17, 2024

She was born on April 3, 1933, to Violet W. Fisher and Salem V. Smith in New London Connecticut. Marilyn is survived by her three children, Elizabeth Hall Foster, David M. Hall, and Jonathan T. Hall, her grandchildren, Rob Foster, Rebecca Foster, Jered Foster, Alicia Hall, Chris Hall, and James Hall, and 15 great-grandchildren. Marilyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband Walter Noll and granddaughter, Leanne V. Foster Gaines.

Marilyn grew up in Groton, Connecticut. She graduated from Northfield High School for Girls in Massachusetts with the Class of 1951. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree from The University of Hartford in 1964 and studied at Trinity College in Oxford University in England during the summer of 1973. Inspired by her lifelong love of writing, she went on at the age of 61 to obtain her Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing from The American University in 1994.

During the 1960s Marilyn was a dedicated civil rights and social justice activist. She marched with Martin Luther King at the 'March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom' on August 28, 1963, and was present during his famous, 'I Have a Dream!' speech. Marilyn traveled on Missionary trips to Guatemala and Honduras from 1978 to 1982, helping uplift and educate residents there, sometimes in remote and dangerous areas.

Marilyn retired from the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. after working many years there as a talented staff writer and editor.

Marilyn married the late Rev. David C. Hall in February 1953. Although the marriage did not endure, it resulted in the births of their 3 children. Marilyn went on to marry Byron Marsh in the fall of 1984. They enjoyed life together in Front Royal Virginia and traveling the country until his untimely passing.

In 2000 she met and fell in love with the late Walter Noll, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University. They married in December of that year in Pittsburgh PA and enjoyed life together with many adventures traveling the world. In Pittsburgh, Marilyn was active in her church, the poets’ group, Madwomen in the Attic, and the Pittsburgh Poetry Society. Marilyn had many of her poems published in books, papers, and magazines, including her most recent book 'Ordinary Tasks'. She won numerous prestigious awards for her published poetry.

After Walter's passing in 2017, Marilyn moved to Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Maryland. While living at Asbury she enjoyed life, met many friends, led a group of inspired poets, and reconnected with her beloved Church of the Savior at the Dayspring Church in Germantown.

Throughout her life, Marilyn was passionate in her beliefs- always ready to give and reach out to others in need. She lived her life as in Mathew 25:40-45 and remains an inspiration to all who knew and loved her.

A memorial service and celebration of Marilyn's life will be held at Wellspring Conference Center, 11411 Neelsville Church Road, Germantown, MD 20876, on September 8, 2024, at 3:00 pm EST.

In lieu of flowers, please smile at a stranger, hug a friend, and be kind to one another.