Marian Vinovich, age 96, passed away on the morning of July 8, 2013. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Ralph Vinovich. When people described Marian the phrase "a true lady" often came up. She was always fashionable and proper. She was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She had a twin sister, Margaret Percival, who was her life long best friend, as well as an older brother, Robert. The twins delighted in telling people how they were identical but had different birthdays. (One was born ten minutes before midnight and the other was born ten minutes after midnight.)Marian graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1937 with a degree in dental hygiene. In the mid-forties she moved to California and continued to work as a hygienist. She met Ralph Vinovich through a mutual friend and they married in 1951. They had two daughters, Claire and Cathie. They moved to Downey in 1953 and lived there until their passing, Marian was very active in the Moravian Church. She was President of the Women's Fellowship three times during the 1960's and 70's. She spent endless hours supporting bake sales, enchilada sales and bazaars. She remained involved in new church membership efforts until her health prohibited her from attending services. She was an honorary life member of the Rio Hondo PTA. Because of her commitment to her dental hygiene career, she made numerous visits to classrooms at Rio Hondo Elementary School to instruct students in dental hygiene and proper brushing. She traveled with a very large toothbrush and set of teeth. She became known as "the tooth lady". She resumed her career part time when her daughters grew older. Marian was an avid bridge player. She loved fashion, clothes, and shopping for antiques. When she and Ralph retired they divided their time between Downey and a farm in Ida Grove, Iowa. She filled her time with bridge games at the country club, decorating the o1d farmhouse with antiques, and visiting places of interest in the Midwest. Marian loved to travel and she and Ralph traveled to Europe more than once as well as New Zealand and Hawaii. She and her sister Margaret also traveled together often. In 2008 Marian retired to Lakewood Manor where she lived until her death. She is survived by her twin sister, Margaret Percival, her daughters Claire Neilson of San Diego, CA and Cathie Gunn, and her husband John of Portland, OR. She will be missed by all who knew her. There will be a memorial service on Sunday, August 4th at 10:30 am. at the Downey Moravian Church, 10337 Old River School Road, Downey Ca,

********** Published: Aug. 1, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 16