Marlene Shigeko Craw was born on July 7, 1937 in Los Angeles, California. She was the only child of Harry and Fannie Sugimoto. 

During WWII the family was relocated to the Japanese Internment Camp at Jerome, Arkansas. After the war the Sugimotos moved to Cleveland, Ohio where they ran a boarding house. 

Marlene began her university studies at Western Reserve University but moved back to California where she finished her studies at UCLA. It was during this time at UCLA that she met the love of her life, Clayton Craw. They were married at Wintersburg Presbyterian Church in July, 1962. 

Marlene had a full life traveling the world with her family living in Hawaii, Japan and Germany. She worked as a homemaker, teacher and Early Childhood Center Coordinator for the Department of Defense.

She passed away peacefully on May 8, surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by her husband of sixty-two years, three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.