Marie Walter Jack

Marie Walter Jack was born on February 6, 1929, the youngest child of Arthur John Walter and Myrtle Baughman Walter.   She grew up in Lakeville, Indiana, a small town about 11 miles south of South Bend.

Marie attended elementary, junior high and high school in Lakeville, and graduated from Lakeville High School in 1947.

After high school graduation, Marie responded to a recruitment advertisement asking young people to apply to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, DC.   While she waited to hear from the FBI, Marie was a part-time college student and worked several retail jobs in Lakeville.

In 1952, Marie heard back from the FBI, asking if she was still interested in working for them.  She was.  At the age of 22, she and some girl from Lakeville, whom she didn’t know, moved to Washington, DC, by train.  Marie worked in Identification for the FBI and retired from there in 1997 with an accumulated 20 years of service after several breaks.  Her career also included working as office manager for an oral surgeon in Bowie, and for Belair Engineering. 

During her early days at the FBI, Marie was walking back to her boarding house after work and passed a ballroom dance studio in the district.  She had always wanted to learn to dance, but had not been permitted to dance in Lakeville.  Marie walked into that studio to sign up for a class and met a young instructor named John Archibald Jack. 

The rest, as they say, is history.  John swept the young Marie off her feet, literally and figuratively.  They were engaged only three short months and were married April 19, 1953.  In the next few years, Marie worked for the FBI, while John received his teaching degree.  The couple lived in Southeast DC in a garden apartment, near Bladensburg Road during that time.

Marie and John had two children, Malcolm Eric, born in 1958 and Karen Jameson, born in 1960.  In 1961, They bought their first home and the family moved to Kembridge Drive in the K section of Bowie.

Marie enjoyed various activities throughout her life.  After learning ballroom dance from John, they went out dancing a lot before the children came along.  She enjoyed dancing with her husband well into her 80s.  Other favorite pastimes included gardening, traveling, and bird watching.

Marie was a strong advocate for her children and later for her grandchildren.  Marie and John’s son Malcolm was born with special needs.  Marie served as president of the Parent’s Board of the ARC of Prince George’s County for several years and could often be found in the Annapolis Court House fighting for the rights of mentally challenged citizens for anything to improve the quality of their lives.  She also served on the Parent’s Board of Great Oaks in Beltsville, MD, a facility for mentally challenged children and adults where their son resided. 

Marie was also a lover of animals, domestic and wild, and supported several animal rescue organizations throughout her life.  She and John were active in social justice causes and fierce advocates of justice and equality for all.   

On September 8, 2023, Marie passed peacefully and gracefully into the arms of our heavenly Father.  She is sorely missed by her children, grandchildren and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Marie was proceeded in death by her husband John, her parents, and siblings James Eric Walter and Malcolm Augustine Walter.  She is survived by her son Malcolm Jack, her daughter Karen Jameson Jack Hastings (Chuck), grandchildren Amanda Hastings, Beck Hastings-Graham (Alex), and Jacob Hastings, and by many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

May Marie’s soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

In leu of flowers, Contributions in Memory of Marie Walter Jack can be made to:

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at https://aspca.org

The ARC of Howard County at https://archoward.org