Obituary of Marian R. Nixon

Marian R. Nixon, 92, of East Windsor, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at her home in Meadow Lakes in East Windsor. 

Born in Woodstown, NJ, Marian was a lifelong resident of New Jersey except for the four years her husband served active duty in the US Navy. She came to the Meadow Lakes Community in East Windsor six years ago after living for 57 years in Lawrenceville, NJ.   

Marian grew up on a dairy farm where she fell in love with the outdoors as a youngster. She stayed local after graduating high school, getting a job with RCA in Camden, NJ. She married and moved to the Princeton area where Barry, her husband, pursued his masters in aeronautical engineering at Princeton University. Not wanting to be drafted into the army during the Korean war, Barry enlisted in the Naval Air Reserves so he could continue flying. The family moved to Pensacola, Fl, courtesy of Uncle Sam, and then to Barbers Point, Hawaii, where their third daughter, Kimberly, was born. After the war ended, they returned to the Princeton area and there they stayed, first for Barry’s education, then for his work at Princeton University’s Forrestal Campus. Their three daughters were joined six years later by a son. 

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she cherished time with her family.  After being a stay-at-home mom when her children were little, Marian got a job as Church Administrator for seven years. She found it a very satisfying job, combining sociability, the opportunity to do good, and the chance to make a little money. She was very involved with Operation Friendship, a non-profit international cultural exchange program for teenagers. The Nixons loved to travel, so after Barry’s retirement they purchased a hot air balloon and attended balloon rallies all over the U.S.A. and eastern Canada, while also visiting family and friends. 

One of Marian’s most life-fulfilling endeavors that gave her immense joy was to cook delicious meals for her loved ones and guests, and one of her greatest talents as well. Holidays and family get-togethers were very important to her and so every holiday season she could be found baking up a storm and was especially known for her crumb crust apple pies, banana bread, and fruit cake cupcakes. 

Marian loved to garden and was a long-time member of the Garden Gate Garden Club in Lawrenceville. She also enjoyed being a member of the Quilters group at Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church for over 20 years. Her other interests included knitting, sewing, bowling and bridge.  

Marian’s faith was important to her, and she followed her favorite aunt’s (Laura) advice to take the children to church to both seek guidance on being a mother of four and giving the gift of faith to them. She was a member of Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church where she worshipped for almost 60 years and served as an elder, deacon, and in many other ministries. 

Marian leaves behind a loving family: her children, Debra Nixon of East Windsor, Holly Brady (John) of Yardley, PA, Kimberly Nixon of Topeka, KS, and Sky Bluestar, nee Todd Nixon, of Santa Fe, NM; her cherished grandchildren, Benjamen Falley, Daniel Falley (Sara), Brenna Falley, Michelle Brady Johansson (Andreas), and Colleen Brady; and great-grandchildren, Mason, Ethan, Kali, Jack, Kassidy, Chase, and Kandace; sisters, Bette Ann Lingelbach (Dan), Peggy DiCeglie (Nick), Bonny Turpin, and Barbara Robinson; brothers, Clarence Robinson, Jr. (Patty) and Thomas Robinson (Debbie); and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Robinson and Mable Giordano; her husband of 65 years, W. Barry Nixon; and her brother, Lawrence Robinson. 

A Celebration of Life worship service will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 11:00 am at Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church, Lawrenceville, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Marian’s memory to Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church by visiting In Memory Of at inmemof.org. 

Cremation Services were arranged under the direction of Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Services at Glackin Chapel, 136 Morrison Ave., Hightstown, NJ.