Marilyn A. “Mimi” Child passed away on September 19 at Tryon Estates in Columbus NC at the age of 93. She was born in Enid OK, the youngest child of Julius H. Almond and Mary B. Almond. With a love and talent for music, she studied voice and piano at the University of Colorado for one year, then lived in Florence, Italy to study bel canto and Italian.

She married William K. Child, Jr. of Spartanburg SC after her year abroad and had three children. Throughout the family’s many moves between GA, SC, and NC, music remained important in her life. She served as President of the Symphony Guild and Officer of the Springer Ballet Auxiliary in Columbus GA, Board member of the Music Foundation of Spartanburg, and Board member of Tryon Concert Association. She was a soloist in church choirs wherever she lived and sang in operas and operettas in Columbus GA and Gilbert & Sullivan productions with the Foothills Savoyards in Tryon. Later in Tryon, she returned to the piano and became a founding member of The Melrose Trio, along with flutist Lesley Oakes and cellist Lois Ell (later, Victor Iskersky). The three performed for over 10 years throughout Western NC and Upstate SC. She was a long-standing member of Foothills Music Club.

Her church was paramount in her life. She held positions as Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister of several Presbyterian Churches and was actively involved with the Women of the Church and with Missions. She had a great love for tennis, golf, and bridge.

She is pre-deceased by her first husband Bill and second husband, Roger Traxler, who brought much joy and a new extended family to her life. She is also pre-deceased by her sister Vayann Gray and brother Jack Almond. Surviving are her daughter Beth Child (Rita) and sons William Child (Sue) and Bob Child (Martha); two grandchildren William and Ellen Child. Also surviving are Roger’s loving family who became Mimi’s family--Emily Traxler Wenske (Jim) and Barry Traxler; grandchildren Kristin Rickelman (Grant), Michael Wenske (Becky) and Page Traxler (David).

Memorial gifts may be made to Tryon Presbyterian Church, 430 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon NC, 28782 or to the Foothills Music Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 463, Lynn NC, 28750. Services will be held at a later date.