* Marion L. Schulze; Former Business Owner

Marion Lois Schulze, a former business owner, has died at 83 after several years of declining health.

Schulze, who died Saturday at her Ventura home, was born April 25, 1917, in Chicago, where she grew up, attended school and graduated as valedictorian of her high school class.

She married Robert H. Schulze, and in 1946 they moved to Ventura and began operating their own business, Schulze News Co. They began as a magazine distributor from a tent in The Avenue area of west Ventura and later moved their headquarters to Palma Drive.

The company handled mainly magazines and paperback books with English and Spanish titles. They also carried collectible cards, children’s books and coloring books, and had about 450 customers throughout Ventura County and the western portion of the San Fernando Valley.

The business continued for more than 50 years, employing as many as 65 workers. The couple retired in 1981, and their children ran the business until 1996.

Schulze spent her leisure time reading, writing poetry, traveling, studying and teaching Bible classes. She was a friend, teacher and mentor at First Baptist Church and Community Presbyterian Church in Ventura.

Schulze is survived by five sons, Stephen of Kingsley, Pa.; David of Santa Paula; Robert of Davis; Allan of Ventura and Douglas of Oxnard; one daughter, Lois Gallardo of Moorpark; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years and one grandson.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura, which is handling the arrangements.

Memorial services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday at Community Presbyterian Church. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Community Presbyterian Church.