Maralyn Felicia Rodriguez Whedbee, 66, died Wednesday, July 12, 2006, at her home after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. Mrs. Whedbee was born in Revere, Mass., on Sept. 26, 1939, to Emilio Rody Rodriguez and Dorothy Fine Rodriguez. She was educated in the public schools of Revere, was a graduate of the School of Business of Burdette College, attended Boston University and later pursued studies at the University of Maryland, European Division. She retired after a total of 20 years of service as a federal employee. Before marriage, she was employed for 10 years with Boston Army Depot, European Supply and Maintenance Agency (Maison Fort, Orleans, France), U.S. Army Transportation Command, Europe, and U.S. Army Special Weapons Command, Europe, where she served as an intelligence analyst and later as executive secretary to the commanding generals of the latter two commands, both headquartered in Germany. During this time, Mrs. Whedbee held the highest U.S. military and NATO security clearances. After a 22-year break in service to be a mother and homemaker, she served as executive secretary to the manager of the North Carolina (later Greensboro) FAA Flight Standards Division Office until her retirement. She also worked for FAMCO/Forsyth, formerly of Winston-Salem, for three years. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by an older sister, Diane R. (Arnold) Rosen, of Atlanta; and her twin sister, Carolyn R. Evans, of Tucson, Ariz. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Rosbon D.B. Whedbee; two adoring daughters, Tanya Liane Landrum and Danielle Felecia Whedbee, both of Winston-Salem; an adored granddaughter, Leila Liane Landrum-N'diaye; a sister, Gloria R. (George) Suthowski, of Tucson; a niece; six nephews; three great-nieces; and three great-nephews. Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 16, at Forsyth Memorial Gardens (off old N.C. 421), with Rabbi Andrew Ettin officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at Vogler Funeral Home, Reynolda Road Branch, and this evening, July 14, at the home at 2833 Monticello Drive, Winston-Salem. In lieu of floral arrangements, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (WFUBMC), Attn: Development Office, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1021, or to the American Cancer Society. (Vogler & Sons Reynolda Road)

Published in Winston-Salem Journal on July 14, 2006