Mary Alice 'Marnie' Kirkpatrick

Mary Alice "Marnie" (Grabe) Kirkpatrick passed away Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at Wesbury United Methodist Community, following a period of failing health. Marnie was born in Harrisburg, PA, on June 4, 1925, the only child of G. Harold and Gertrude (Wilson) Grabe. She graduated from Camp Hill High School in 1943, and from Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing at 8th and Spruce in Philadelphia in 1947. While she was working in Philadelphia, she met a young resident physician, David D. Kirkpatrick, Jr. He brought her a couple of lovebirds as a gift and kept coming around to check on them. Turned out, neither of them liked the birds, but Marnie and David liked each other very much. They married on Dec. 29, 1949, and eventually had four children. The couple moved to Meadville in 1954, and that has been Home ever since. Marnie loved to care for others. She showed her love through hospitality creating delicious homemade bread, cookies and meals. There was always room at her table for one more. She loved having a full table of family and friends to feed. Her wit and quips were so famous among her family that they compiled a quilt full of her "Pearls of Wisdom." Marnie and David enjoyed numerous wonderful trips and loved creating memories with the family at Gould Lake in Southern Ontario. Community involvement was an important part of Marnies life. She served on the Hillside Home Board, Meadville Hospital Auxiliary and the Crawford Heritage Foundation Board. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Deacon, Elder, choir member and Sunday school teacher. Marnie is survived by her four children: Mollie Geissler (Larry) of Marion, OH; Suzanne Malone (Martin) of Meadville; David Kirkpatrick (Judy) of Cincinnati, OH; and Dan Kirkpatrick (Allison) of Rocky Mount, NC; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, with two more arriving in April; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her granddaughter, Meghan R. Kirkpatrick; and a son-in-law, John W. Brubaker, Jr. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. She was fiercely independent, and relished being referred to as an SOB Stubborn Old Broad. She will be sorely missed and never forgotten. A private family memorial service will be Saturday, May 15th at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 890 Liberty St., Meadville with the Rev. Dr. Brian Jensen, Pastor, officiating. The service will be live streamed at https://my.gather.app/remember/mary-alice-marnie-kirkpatrick. The family suggests memorials be made to the First Presbyterian Church 890 Liberty Street, Meadville, PA 16335 or a charity of the donors choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville where memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net Services Private Services First Presbyterian Church (Meadville)