Marian Laura Eckstein, 91, of Crystal City died Dec. 4, 2014. Mrs. Eckstein grew up in New York and was a retired teacher of home economics in public schools in New York, California and New Jersey. She earned a doctorate degree in 1971 from Texas Woman’s University. She was an instructor and supervisor of student teachers at the University of Miami (Fla.) and was assistant to the chief home economist for the New York Department of Social Welfare. She enjoyed traveling, dancing, music and sewing. She was born April 16, 1923, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., the daughter of the late Harold Elwood and Lydia (Durehe) Smith.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Alexander J. Eckstein.
She is survived by three nieces: Gay Critchlow McHale, Shauna Lange and Sandy Flint-Smith; a nephew: Harold S. Critchlow; and several great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by three brothers: Harold Elwood Smith Critchlow, Donald Worden Smith and Robert Smith Gleason; and a nephew: Donald Lee Critchlow.
Funeral arrangements were private. Burial was in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements were under the direction of Mahn Twin City Chapel in Festus.