Marlene is the widow of The Rev. Carroll H. Varner, Jr., CDR, USN (Ret), a career Navy Chaplain, veteran of WW II and the Korean War followed by reserve service. Rev. Varner also served 12 years as a Chaplain in the VA drug rehab program. Marleen holds degrees from The College of Wooster and Syracuse University. Her career as a student financial aid administrator in higher education included service at The University of the South, Commonwealth of Kentucky, UNC-Greensboro and Financial Aid Services. She lives at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, NC, where she has served as President of both the Independent and Assistant Living Resident Councils, and on the Deerfield Board of Directors. She has three sons, five grandchildren, two great grandsons, four step children and their progeny.