Marilyn Elinor Batter Benedict, 92, of Monrovia, died late Friday, April 7, 2017, at Frederick Memorial Hospital. She was the wife of the late Mr. John Richard Benedict, Sr., her husband of 64 1/2 years, who died May 29, 2010.

Born February 2, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, she was a daughter of the late Carl John and Gertrude Beyer Batter. She was a 1943 graduate of Montgomery Blair High School, attended Northwestern University, and was a World War II bride living their first year of marriage in Wiesbaden, Germany during the occupation period. 

Mrs. Benedict served as a bookkeeper for 40 years at the Carlton Club, a Washington DC executives club co-founded by her father.  She served in other bookkeeping positions over the years.  She retired in the 1990s.

She attended a number of United Methodist churches over her lifetime.  

She was a highly energetic and spunky woman with a wicked sense of humor.  She was a feminist ahead of her time.  In her youth, she enjoyed swimming at Manhattan Beach, playing basketball, learning to fly a plane, and teaching classes at Blair when her teachers went to war.  As an adult, she enjoyed playing cards and slots and handicapping harness racehorses, taking car repair classes, leading Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, making lists about anything, cheering at her children and grandchildren's sporting events (except lacrosse, she hated lacrosse), drinking pina coladas, crafting and sewing and knitting, reading mysteries with a strong female protagonist, playing Words with Friends on her iPad, spoiling her grandkids and great-grandkids, listening to Barry Manilow and Barbra Streisand, discovering the best gadget for the job, organizing Blair reunions, going to Broadway shows and the movies, canceling her husband's vote in every election, hosting the annual cousin's party, picking crabs, and any family gathering in general.  She was like a teenager trapped in a 92-year old body who was always game for playing a prank on the kids, flying kites at the beach, racing her shopping cart at the store, and doing underwater backflips in the pool at age 89.  She always had great joy and pride for her family's love and support for one another. 

She is survived by children, John "Rocky" Benedict Jr., and wife, Judy, of New Market, Carl R. Benedict and wife, Debbie, of Hagerstown, Linda C. Benedict of Greenville, S.C., and Laura C. Densock and husband, Rob, of Monrovia; 10 grandchildren, Cindy, Kathy, Heather, Bill, C.J., Scott, Dylan, Lily, Ruby and Brady; six great-grandchildren, Anya, Caitlyn, Ava, Will, Porter and Adeline; as well as one living sibling, Marjorie Batter Neumann, of Gaithersburg.  

Besides her parents and husband, Mrs. Benedict was preceded in death by granddaughter, Jessica, who died June 4, 2009; and by siblings, Gertrude Batter Gielen, Dorothy Batter Woodhead, and Carl J. Batter, Jr.

The Molesworth-Williams Funeral Home, Damascus, is handling the arrangements. A visitation will be held 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Molesworth.  A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 13, also at Molesworth, 26401 Ridge Road, Damascus. The Rev. Donna L. Renn, pastor of Oakland United Methodist Church in Sykesville, will officiate. Inurnment will be private and at the convenience of the family. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Benedict's name to either the Ninety-Nines Organization or the American Heart Association.  

The Ninety-Nines is an international organization of licensed women pilots who promote the advancement of youth and adult female aviators through education, scholarships, mutual support and sharing their passion for flight.  Send donations to The Ninety-Nines, Inc., 4300 Amelia Earhart Dr., Ste A, Oklahoma City OK 73159-1140.  Info about the Ninety-Nines can be obtained at www.ninety-nines.org.

The American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.  Send donations to American Heart Association 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979.  Info about the AHA can be obtained at:  www.heart.org.