Marilyn Holton

Emily Marilyn Stroud Holton, of Signal Mountain, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2015. Marilyn was born in Kinston, N.C., the daughter of Clayton Stroud and Anna Smith Stroud of Pink Hill, N.C. Her father was a farmer and growing up on the farm taught Marilyn the meaning of hard work and gave her a "get-r-done" attitude. Both of these attributes served her well in her future life as a nurse. She graduated from B. F. Grady High School in 1956 and immediately entered nursing school at Rex Hospital School of Nursing in Raleigh, N.C. After graduating from nursing school, she began her nursing career. Marilyn soon met and married her husband-to-be for the next 53 years. They were blessed with two wonderful children, Pam Holton (Tommy) Trotter and George Montague Holton III, and the family lived in Raleigh, N.C. In 1966, the couple moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., where her husband began a new job with Westinghouse and Marilyn continued her nursing at a local hospital. In 1980, the family moved to Signal Mountain and her husband assumed a position at TVA. Marilyn then began work at Parkridge Hospital in the surgery unit. As her career progressed, she rose to the position of Director of Day Surgery and Outpatient Services. She and another nurse, Doretta Shields, basically built and established these units from ground zero and helped them to progress to their current operating status. Marilyn retired from Parkridge in 1995 after incurring heart problems, but continued nursing activities on a part-time basis. Marilyn was a kind and loving person who cared deeply for all of those she loved and for all of her patients; she truly had the heart of a nurse and wanted all of her patients to get the best care possible. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Anna Smith Stroud of Pink Hill, NC; her brother, Tom Stroud of Albertson, N.C.; and her son, George Montague Holton of Atlanta, Ga. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, George M. Holton Jr.; her daughter, Pam (Tommy) Trotter and her grand-dogs, Scrappy, Maggie and Khloe. Other family members include a nephew, Tommy Stroud of Albertson, N.C.; niece, Vickie Stroud Robinson of Kinston, N.C. and nephew, David Harris of Washington, N.C. The family wishes to give a special Thank You to Rebecca and Jim Bolduc of Goldsboro, N.C., for their constant support, love and encouragement they gave to Marilyn and the family. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, March 30, and 1-2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. A celebration of life service for Marilyn will follow at 2:30 on Tuesday, at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com. Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.