Marian Jane (Rustic) Bay

March 16th, 1935 – May 19th, 2026

Marian joined her beloved husband in heaven on May 19th, 2026. She passed peacefully in her home within a view of her backyard where a cardinal suddenly appeared and lingered about. She led a full life being the matriarch of the two generations of family.

Marian was born to loving parents Charles and Mildred Rustic (Warnke) in Scranton, PA. After struggling through the Great Depression, her family sold whatever possessions that wouldn’t fit in their car and traveled to Pensacola, FL in 1942 to pursue a new job. She flourished in school, playing basketball and volleyball in the Girls’ Sports Club, and the YMCA’s Y-Teens Club while excelling in math, biology and chemistry. She was inducted into the National Honor Society her senior year at Pensacola High School. She earned an associate in science degree from Pensacola Junior College while working in the Sears credit department. She spent the following year studying medical technology and pathology at the Baptist Hospital which qualified her to take the National ASCP test and start her career as a Medical Laboratory Technician (MedTech) at the same hospital.

After friends arranged a blind date with Naval Aviation Cadet Barton H. Bay, she fell in love and got married a year later April 25th, 1959. As a Navy wife she moved around the country – Norfolk, Key West, Memphis, Westminster and San Diego while raising two children and being the head of household during Bart’s numerous deployments at sea.

Summer vacations were visiting their hometown family and friends in Florida and Ohio, in alternating years. After Bart completed his active service, they settled in his hometown of Toledo in 1974. She restarted her MedTech career at the Medical College of Ohio (now UTMC), retiring at the age of 60 after 19 years of service and enthralled with the idea of sleeping in everyday! The highlight of the summers were the annual weeks at Miley’s Resort on Lake Bellaire and tent camping on Lake Huron (Ipperwash and Pinery Provincial Parks, Ontario).

She thoroughly enjoyed her retirement years, tending to her six grandchildren and pursuing her hobbies. Her most passionate of which was producing beautiful detailed handmade greeting cards for all holidays and special occasions. She diligently would stamp and color images, cutting-out layers, gluing embellishments, embossing and painting each unique card. This was an especially arduous task leading up to Christmas, given she had a wide circle of family and friends. She was also passionate about genealogy and finding out about her family history.

One of the most meaningful chapters of her later years was the result of her years-long search to learn more about her father’s history. Through a DNA test, she discovered that he had been born in Messina, Sicily as Rosario Rustica. That revelation led her to an extended family she never knew existed, and she was blessed to meet them and form a connection with a part of her family story that had long been unknown. It added a beautiful new branch to the family tree she cherished so deeply.

Marian was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 59 years, Bart. She is survived by her children Beverly (Gregory) Zmuda and Brian (Linda) Bay; grandchildren Zachary, Alexa, Zohn, and Aubrey Zmuda; and Brianna and Brenton Bay. She is also survived by many lifelong friends. The family gives special thanks to Hospice of Northwest Ohio for enabling her to spend her final days comfortably in her home. She was a dedicated member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and a patron of Walbridge Park.

Visitation will be at Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Ave. on Tuesday, May 26th from 4-8 pm. Visitation on Wednesday, May 27th at 10am will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1825 Glendale Avenue, Toledo, with funeral service to follow at 11am. Donations may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or Hospice of Northwest Ohio.