Virginia Morstein-Marx, a former resident of Carbondale, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, in Sacramento, Calif. She was 89.

She was born Oct. 4, 1913, in Los Angeles to Mary Lou Sheppard and Walter Fisher.

Her father was an independent oil prospector in Texas, and the family moved nearly every year as her father searched for viable wells.

During the Great Depression, her first job was with the Works Progress Administration. After a successful result in the Federal Civil Service Examination, she landed a clerical job on the eve of World War II in the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C.

She eventually became division business manager of the Bureau of the Budget, Executive Office of the President. At the same time, she earned a bachelor’s degree in administration from American University through night courses.

She married Fritz Morstein-Marx, who she met in Washington. They moved to Germany in 1962 when he was offered an academic post in his native country.

After his death and her retirement, Mrs. Morstein-Marx settled in Carbondale in 1976 with her children.

She became a well-known figure in the community life of the Roaring Fork Valley.

She served with the Pitkin County home rule charter commission, the Pitkin County Advisory Finance Committee, the Garfield County League of Women Voters and East Garfield County Retired Senior Volunteers Program.

She was a member of the Carbondale United Methodist Church and sang in its choir for many years.

In 1996, Mrs. Morstein-Marx moved to Sacramento to be close to her elder son, but she always spoke of the Crystal and Roaring Fork valleys as her home.

She is survived by sons Thomas Morstein-Marx of Sacramento, Calif., and Robert Morstein-Marx of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and by grandchildren Bonnie Morstein-Marx, and Eric and Matthew Lindheim-Marx.

No services are planned.