Marilyn Joyce Wertz

January 19, 1931-April 21, 2026

Marilyn Joyce Wertz, 95, passed away peacefully at her home in Sebastopol in the early hours of April 21, 2026. She was lovingly cared for by her devoted family.

Marilyn was born in Santa Barbara to Willidean (Blye) and Wilbur Walter Ayers Jr. Marilyn, her parents, and her younger brother David lived in several different locations around southern California, eventually settling in Burbank, where they bought a house.

Marilyn graduated from Burbank High in 1948. She then attended Glendale Junior College before transferring to UCLA, graduating in 1953 with a BA in Industrial Arts. She got a job as a technical illustrator at Lockheed Martin. Marilyn transferred to the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Division in Sunnyvale. It proved to be a fateful move because that was where she met her future husband, Samuel Wertz, who was her boss in the illustration department. Sam and Marilyn married in May of 1960. They had a daughter, Denise, in 1961. In 1962 they moved north to Sonoma County, where Sam had family. Sam and Marilyn had two more children, Daniel, born in 1963, and Patrick, born in 1966.

Sam worked as a structural engineer and Marilyn threw herself into raising a family. She was involved in all the organizations her children joined during their elementary school years, becoming a Blue Bird leader, a Cub Scout den mother and a 4-H leader.

Marilyn enjoyed sewing, gardening, and reading. She was also a very good cook. She made many delicious meals but was especially fond of dessert! There were always after school cookies available, and cakes and pies for the weekends and special occasions. She spent every summer canning fruit and making jam, apple butter, and fruit pies for the freezer. She was always concerned that people might be hungry and her first question to anyone coming in the door was, “Have you had anything to eat?”

When her children became teenagers Marilyn started working at Hewlett-Packard. She worked there as a micro-assembler until her retirement, in 1996 at age 65. The first few years of Marilyn’s retirement were spent caring for Sam, who’s health was failing, until his death in 2000.

In her later retirement years Marilyn enjoyed working in the yard, researching her family history and reading. She was an avid reader, a trait she shared with Sam and that they passed on to their children. The house had always been overflowing with books! Marilyn read a wide variety of books but loved historical fiction the most, especially stories about the British Isles.

Marilyn was kind and gentle with a quiet sense of humor. She was more comfortable at home with her family than going out to big social occasions. She was warm and generous and always made everyone feel welcome. She was devoted to her family and she will be missed more than words can say.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband Samuel S. Wertz. She is survived by her daughter Denise Wertz and her sons Daniel Wertz (Kitty) and Patrick Wertz.

A visitation will be held on May 16, 2026 at 12pm, followed by a funeral service at 1pm at Eggan & Lance, 1530 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa.