Marlene Marie (Bikar) Griefenstine

Marlene “Marty” Marie Griefenstine, 62, of Mechanicsville, VA, passed away on February 28, 2021. She died at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, VA following a brief hospitalization. Marty was born on February 12, 1959 to Norma and Jim Bikar in Mansfield, OH. She graduated from Madison Comprehensive High School. By age 23, Marty had three children. She resided for many years in the Clear Fork Valley. Throughout her life, Marty was drawn to various service industries where she could share her bright smile and kind spirit. In Ohio, she worked as an aide to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities before applying her interpersonal skills as a restaurant server. While working in restaurants, she made many friends and collected oodles of memories. Marty once waited on a cartoonist who drew her a cartoon depicting a superhero trying to order a “hero” sandwich. She cherished connections like these. She even met her husband Tim while they worked together at a Mansfield restaurant. Together, Marty and Tim settled in Virginia, and Marty found a new calling as a rural mail carrier. She navigated country roads and dodged wild weather to bring folks their letters and packages. The hard work was worth the satisfaction of experiencing an up close and personal view of the land that would remain home for the rest of her days. Upon conclusion of her rural mail service, Marty dedicated time to the people and things she loved. She treasured, music, art, animals, nature, domestic pursuits, crafts, and her family. Marty was a talented textile artist, and she could draw anything. Her personal style had a 1970’s flair, and she loved classic rock music. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and thoughtful grandmother. Marty is preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Norma Bikar, several extended family members, and multiple comrades from her close circle of friends. She is survived by her husband, Tim Griefenstine, daughter Crystal (Steve) Buzzard, daughter Jessica (Elizabeth) Holmes, son Ronald (Patricia) McNutt, sister Shelly Oberlin, several stepchildren, multiple grandchildren, and many extended family members and friends. Cremation has been facilitated by Monaghan Funeral Home & Cremation Services. A private casting ceremony will be held for family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Marlene Griefenstine’s Memorial Fund at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. http://giftfunds.stjude.org/marlenegriefenstine

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” ~ Dolly Parton

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