Marianne Pinches was born in Eureka on January 30, 1920 to Darrell McKeehan Lambert and Pearl Wightman Lambert then lived for 103 years until Wednesday March 9, 2023. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill and her son Bill, her sister Virginia (Gil) Moore Adams and her brothers Darrell (Katie) Lambert and Hank (Fran) Lambert. She is survived by her granddaughter Kim Pinches, her great-granddaughter Emma Pinches, her daughter-in-law Shirley Pinches, her ex-daughter-in-law Doralee Smith, her nieces and nephews Hank (Kathy) Lambert, Jr.; Darcy (Andrew) Mouton, Leanne Weber, Karen (Jack) Ehrlich and Deloris (Steve) Jorgenson, as well as a large number of great, great-great, and great-great-great nieces and nephews and loyal friends.

Marianne attended the Eureka Public Schools. Her parents enrolled her in private violin lessons when she was seven. She graduated from Humboldt State University in 1942, and continued to take graduate classes in music at San Jose State, San Francisco State, the San Francisco Conservatory, UOP, and the Oberlin Conservatory in addition to taking graduate classes in education from Southern Oregon College.

Marianne worked as a school teacher for the Willits School District from 1942 to 1943 and the Eureka City School District from 1947 to 1977. Her dual passions for education and music led her to start the string instrument program for the Eureka City Schools in 1954. She continued to teach in that program until her retirement from teaching. She was also a violinist who played with the HSU orchestra for 61 years starting in 1934. She was concertmaster of that orchestra for several years. She was awarded the HSU President’s Service Award for her work with the HSU Symphony, and was also honored as the homecoming queen of HSU on the occasion of the 50th reunion of her graduating class. She was a founding member of the Eureka Symphony, and also played with the Riviera Ensemble and the Eureka String Quartet.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sanders Funeral Home in Eureka. Reverend Cassie Wyland will preside. There will be a public viewing from 2 to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 14 in the Sanders Funeral Home at 1835 E St. in Eureka. The funeral will be on, Saturday April 15 at 11 a.m. in the First Baptist Church at 422 Del Norte St. in Eureka. The burial will follow at Oceanview Cemetery. The reception will be after the burial in the fellowship hall of the First Baptist Church. Pallbearers are: Stefan Vaughn, Ray Jerland, Hank Lambert, Andrew Mouton, Eric Jones and Emma Pinches.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers who assisted Marianne in her own home, at Frye’s Care Home and Hospice of Humboldt.

If you wish to make a donation in memory of Marianne, please consider the Eureka Symphony at www.eurekasymphony.org/support.

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