Marjorie (Marje) Ellen Rump 1919-2008
Marjorie Ellen Rump (89) passed
away after a long illness on
December 23, 2008, at Glenwood
Gardens, where she has resided
the last two years in
Bakersfield.
She was born Marjorie Gummig in
St. Joseph, Missouri on January
19, 1919. Her parents, Dr.
Edward August Gummig and Adeline
Boller Gummig, moved with
daughter Marjorie and son Dwight
to Pasadena, California in the
late 1920s. As a young teen,
Marjorie worked in her father's
medical office during high
school summers and was taught to
drive by an ambulance driver.
She graduated from Pasadena
Junior College in a class of
over 1,000 students. Marjorie
attended the University of
Redlands, graduating in 1941 and
was honored with an alumna
Jubilee Heritage Award in 1983.
She was a member of Beta Lambda
sorority and has maintained
contact with members over the
years through round-robin
newsletter. She earned a
teaching credential and taught
speech and drama at Beaumont
High School.
During the Second World War, she
started corresponding with a
young Colorado School of Mines
engineering grad named "Jack",
for whom his Auntie Myra played
the matchmaker. They were
married on July 25, 1943 at the
Church of the Redeemer in
Biloxi, Mississippi, where Jack
was working for the U.S. Bureau
of Ships. At war's end, her
husband was transferred to San
Pedro, California, where their
son Jack Edward was born.
Thereafter, Marje and Jack lived
in Fellows and Taft when Jack
went to work for Texaco Oil as a
petroleum engineer. Marjorie
started Taft Community Theater
and gave birth to daughters
Susan and Marilyn in the early
fifties.
The family moved to Bakersfield
in 1953. Marjorie worked as
substitute teacher and as book
buyer for Sierra Book Store when
her children were small. In the
1970s, she went back to school
for a Master's degree in Library
Science, attending USC over four
consecutive summers. She worked
briefly at East High School as a
librarian, then was hired by the
Kern County Library System and
over the next 35 years worked
several jobs from branch manager
to bookmobile supervisor to
Deputy Director. Marjorie was in
charge of the Beale Library move
to its current location on
Truxton Avenue.
She retired in 2000 at the age
of 81. In the early 60's, she
and Jack began traveling
overseas at every vacation
opportunity. The family fondly
remembers two trips to Europe in
1965 and 1968, when the kids
came along to celebrate their
parent's 25th anniversary in
Bern, Switzerland. Marje's
favorite saying was that she
wanted to give her children both
roots and wings. Marjorie was
deeply connected in the local
community with memberships in
Soroptimists, PEO, AAUW, Kern
County Historical Society,
Friends of the Library, First
Presbyterian Church, and
Assistance League, where she
volunteered regularly at the
Bargain Box. She also served
with her husband Jack on the
board of CCHS (Conference of
California Historical Societies)
and helped edit many local
publications on early California
history.
Marjorie was preceded in death
by her husband Jack in 1996. She
is survived by son Jack Edward
of Sacramento, daughter Susan
Steinbach of Davis, and Marilyn
Schiveley of Elk Grove. Other
family members include grandson
Max Harrington, who is teaching
4th grade in Myanmar and has
established a foundation for
rural children, and
granddaughter Megan Rump, who
graduated from Loyola Marymount
University this past June.
Graveside services will be
private. Cards may be sent to
Marje's family at 648 Lake
Terrace Circle, Davis, CA 95616.
The family would like to thank
Hoffmann Hospice for their
wonderful care and support. The
family requests that in lieu of
flowers, memorial donations be
directed in Marjorie's name to:
Hoffmann Hospice, 8501 Brimhall
Rd., Bldg. 100, Bakersfield, CA
93312, or Assistance League, or
Friends of the Library. Marjorie
Rump 1919 - 2008
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