Marlene Allison, 77

MARLENE ALLISON passed away peacefully at her home in Leesburg, VA on Dec. 29, 2014.

Marlene was born in Schenectady, NY, on May 11, 1937 to George and Barbara Ferner. She received her BA in Music from New York State Teacher’s College at Albany and later, her Master’s in Library Science from the State University of New York at Albany. While working for the US State Department as a librarian in Aschaffenburg, Germany, she met and married, on June 12 1963, Army Lieutenant William T. Allison of Hillsboro, TX. She was an army wife for nearly 22 years - stationed in Germany and throughout the United States.

Marlene was employed as a librarian for Loudoun County Public schools from August 1979 until June 2002. She began her career in Loudoun County at Guilford Elementary – soon moving to Simpson Middle School. She opened and later retired from Harper Park Middle School. She judged spelling bees and coached many Odyssey of the Mind teams. Before moving to Leesburg, she worked at the Center for Naval Analysis as a research librarian in Arlington, VA and as a librarian for the Monterey, CA schools. In addition, she worked as a real estate agent and taught piano.

Marlene enjoyed showing her Afghan hounds and Komondors (Hungarian sheep dogs). She was an active member of the Potomac Afghan hound club and the Mid-Atlantic States Komondor Club. She later raised and showed French Lop rabbits and was a life member of the National Capital Rabbit Breeders.

Marlene was a loving and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister-in-law. No one had a kinder, gentler or more generous heart than Marlene. She will be sorely missed by all those she touched.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her uncle and aunt, Frank and Anna Ferner; and her husband of over 50 years, retired Maj. William Thomas Allison. She is survived by son, William Michael Allison and wife, Kim of Purcellville, VA; daughter, Carla Jean Allison and husband, Sean Carrigan of Linden, VA; son, George Thomas Allison of Leesburg, VA; grandchildren, Zach, Sam and Hannah Allison of Purcellville, VA; sister-in-law, Jo Ellen Allison of Grand Prairie, TX; and her beloved dog, Bear.

Burial will be at a later date with her husband in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Please leave condolences at www.colonialfuneralhome.com.