Marilyn Muhlbauer

Marilyn (Kirshenbaum) Muhlbauer, age 94, passed away after a long illness on November 15, 2023. She leaves her four children Jan Muhlbauer (Nancy), Robin Fleschler (Sammy), Michael Muhlbauer (Jenny), and Laurie Turner (Eric); her nine grandchildren and their wonderful spouses, Sarah, Aaron (Irem), Zachary, Melissa (Marty), Heather, Lindsay (Johnny), Michael Clayton, Anna (Michael), and Cate; and fifteen great-grandchildren, Spencer, Jackson, Sampson, Juliana, Aaron, Sophie, Harlow, Hayden, Henry, Rose, Betty, Ava, Cooper, Caleb, and Logan. Marilyn was born in New York City, but grew up in the Bronx, on August 14, 1929 to Alexander (Sam) and Anna Kirshenbaum (Rosenstock). In the early years of her life, she was cared for by relatives (Uncle Max, Aunt Esther, Aunt Sadie, Uncle Louie, as well as grandparents on the lower East side) because her mother was ill. Her family was very religious. She was able to return home to her parents at six years old when she began her lifelong love of reading. Her favorite memory was walking the long blocks in the Bronx by herself at age six, first to get a library card and then to check out books regularly. As a young girl, she also learned to play the piano. After attending Hermann Ridder Jr High School and graduating from James Monroe High School at age 16. Marilyn met her husband Herbert (married 69 years) through his sister. They got married in 1949 and moved to Texas for Herbert’s job with Texaco. She was a supportive mother who encouraged her children to be independent. She was a fabulous cook, learning from scratch on her own and made wonderful holiday meals that her grandchildren frequented and loved. She cooked and catered the entire wedding of one of her children. Marilyn had lots of friends and went out with them every Tuesday for years. She substitute taught, was a great teacher, had a beautiful voice; worked as a librarian and for the Jewish Federation in Houston assisting Rafael Arbisser organize the Israeli pilgrimages. Later, back in Austin, she worked at the US Postal Services (4am to 12pm shift) so Herbert could retire and reported organizing the office Christmas parties although she was the only Jewish person at the postal office. She was active in Hadassah and the Agudas Achim Sisterhood. She loved games of all kinds—bridge, Mah jongg, crossword puzzles and television game shows. She loved to travel (Norway, England, Canada, Iceland, Israel, Europe, and the U.S.). And of course, she read multiple books per week her entire life. She will be dearly missed by her family. We wish to thank Kasia, Tiera, America, Sharonda, and Wanda for their care and kindness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy A graveside service was held at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 17, 2023 at Beth Israel Allen Parkway Cemetery, 3502 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX.

Marilyn Muhlbauer

August 14, 1929 - November 15, 2023