Marlene Elizabeth Rambo
Marlene Elizabeth Rambo
Marlene Elizabeth Rambo was born in November 1934 in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania to Harrison B. and Marie F Rambo. Another member of her new family was her older brother, Frank Rambo.
In the early 1950’s, Marlene met Harry Martin and they eventually decided to get married. On September 17, 1953, they became parents to a little girl and decided to name her Marbeth Ann Martin. When asked how she came upon the name, Marlene said that she wanted her little girl to always have a remembrance of her. In order to accomplish that goal she took the first part of her first name and the second part of her middle name and combined them together creating the name Marbeth. Eighteen months later on February 11, 1955, she had her second child. She had blonde hair and blue eyes and it was decided to call her Diane Lee Martin. Almost two years later on January 17, 1957, Marlene gave birth to a little boy with brown hair and brown eyes. Marlene and Harry decided to name this child after Harry and the child’s name became Harry David Martin.
Six months later the family was split up with David going into a foster home where he was eventually adopted. Marbeth and Diana were placed into an orphanage. While living in the orphanage, the girls were still allowed to see their grandmother, Nannie. Nannie told Marbeth that her mother had to be hospitalized and that was why they were in the orphanage. No reason for the hospitalization was given or at least remembered. While living in the orphanage, Marbeth used to fantasize that her mother was a princess and that the reason she had to live in the orphanage was because her mom was busy taking care of her people in another part of the kingdom. while waiting for her mother to retrieve her and her sister, Marbeth would pretend that she was only in the orphanage to protect the other children who lived there.
In September of 1975, Marlene and Marbeth were reunited. The time before leaving for Phoenix, Arizona was for pictures and coming to the realization that at last Marbeth knew who she looked like. In October of 1975 Marbeth and her family moved from Pennsylvania. Learning more about Marlene would happen in one week sections at a time several years apart.
Marlene would come to visit Marbeth and her family with her second husband, Arnold Ross. It was on those short visits that Marbeth would learn who her mother was and what she was about. Quickly Marbeth learned that her mother seemed to have a very childlike attitude about things which were going on. Marlene like to do crafts and one Christmas brought the family several Christmas ornaments which she had made. One of Marlene’s favorite things and possibly the reason she traveled from Pennsylvania to Arizona in the first place was to go to Disneyland. Marbeth held the belief that the childlike attitude being displayed be her mother on most occasions was an act although Arnold seemed to think of it as Marlene’s condition.
A couple of other things which Marlene liked were swimming and definitely smoking. It became very noticeable on one of her last visits to Arizona the Marlene was very ill. It turned out that Marlene had emphysema and needed oxygen to help her breathe. Even though she had this condition, Marlene never gave up her smoking. Right before Marlene and Arnold left for Disney World, Arnold disclosed that Marlene also had a tumor in her lungs.
Marlene and Arnold came for one more visit after that announcement but it was had on Jennifer and Thomas, Marbeth’s children to watch how hard it was for their grandmother. Diana moved next door to Marlene when she noticed how ill her mother was becoming. On one occasion, Marlene took way too many pills. She went to see a psychologist or psychiatrist who questioned her about the incident but insisted that she only took the medicine when Arnold told her it was time to take it. After that incident it became Diana’s responsibility to give her mother her medicine.
Marlene Elizabeth Rambo Martin Ross died of emphysema and a tumor in her lungs in November 1989. Marlene was only 55 years of age but at least her suffering came to an end.
to my Adoption Story,
