Marilyn (Gorman) Scholz

Marilyn (Gorman) Scholz, 87, of Woodland, CA, passed away on December 14, 2025, due to an accident, surrounded by her husband and loving family.
Marilyn was born in San Francisco in 1938 (coincidentally delivered by the same physician and at the same hospital as her husband, Ronan). It wasn’t until she needed a ride to a student party at the University of California at Davis Catholic Newman Club that they met. He was her driver then and throughout her life. Marilyn and Ron celebrated their 65^th wedding anniversary in August 2025.
Marilyn blended the Irish, Swedish, and California heritage of her parents, Thomas Edward II and Evelyn Warn Gorman. She was the oldest sibling to Tom, Dennis, and Greg Gorman. In her youth, Marilyn lived in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood, and went to St. Paul’s elementary and Mercy High schools. The family moved to Salinas, CA in 1953, where she graduated from Palma High School. Marilyn attended the College of Notre Dame in Belmont her first two years, then graduated from U.C. Davis in 1960. Later, she returned to UCD for her teaching credential.
“Mrs. Scholz,” the educator, touched thousands of lives. As a newlywed, Marilyn taught elementary school in Missouri when Ron was stationed there at the Ft. Leonard Wood army base. They returned to California, living in Stockton before moving to Woodland in 1966. Starting in 1969 and for 20 years, Marilyn was a teacher and then the Director of St. Luke’s Nursery School in Woodland. She was a strong advocate for early learning and the social-emotional development of children through music, art, play, and field trips.
Marilyn was asked to apply for the principal position at Holy Rosary School in Woodland, previously attended by all her children as well as her mother-in-law in the 1910s. Marilyn was a devoted leader there, serving in that role for six years before retiring. She was also a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, celebrating the advancement of female education.
Marilyn was an active volunteer and traveler. She loved games and liked to win; it was a rare family victory to beat her in Scrabble. Marilyn initiated a decades-long Bridge marathon and rooted for the Sacramento Kings basketball team (a throwback to her high school cheerleader role). She had a weakness for See’s candy but exercised regularly, swimming in the Woodland High School pool up until the week she died.
Marilyn and Ron have four children (Julie Scholz, Jennifer Kelly, Stephanie Howard, and Michael Scholz); six grandchildren (Alex, Betsy, Fiona, Thomas, Ava, and Om); one great grandchild (Ramona) living in Missouri who they met in October 2025; and numerous cherished in-laws, nieces, and nephews. Family and friends were very important to Marilyn, as was learning more about family history. She kept in contact through visits, phone calls, and mailed notecards, sometimes self-illustrated, with people she knew from all decades of her life.
Marilyn’s faith and prayer sustained her. From her 2021 book of memories, she wrote: “In supporting my family, friends, church, and community, I feel that I am using the gifts God gave me, that I am doing His work on earth, and fulfilling my purpose. Of course, when this life is over, I hope that heaven will be my final destination.” Her family has no doubt that she is there.
A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held Saturday, April 11, 2026, starting with a Memorial Mass at 11AM, at Holy Rosary church, 645 California Street, Woodland, CA. There will be a community reception and sharing in Woodland at 12:30 PM. For more information, contact MarilynCOL@yahoo.com.
Her family deeply appreciates the prayers, condolences, and tributes offered. In honor of Marilyn’s dedication to children and quality education, please consider a donation in her name to the Holy Rosary School Angel Fund, https://hrsaints.com.