Marcus, Beth E. (1920-2006). Papers, 1992-2006.

Beth Eileen Marcus was born in Holland, Michigan, on May 3, 1920. She spent the bulk of her career as an executive in the Reformed Church in America, although she was baptized as an infant in the Christian Reformed Church. She graduated from Holland High School in 1938 and from Hope College in 1942. She earned a master’s degree at the University of Michigan and did work toward a Ph.D. at New York University. She was honored with an honorary LL.D. from her alma mater.

During her high school and college years, Marcus was a very active volunteer in the American Red Cross. After a year of teaching in Fenton, Michigan, at the age of 23, she became the executive director of the Ottawa County Chapter of the American Red Cross. This was the period of World War II and the Korean War, and the involvement of the Red Cross grew by leaps and bounds. In 1953, she was appointed the executive secretary of the RCA Board of Domestic Missions. She spent the rest of her active career as an executive in various denominational positions for the RCA. She retired in 1986.

In 1989, Marcus was elected as an elder at Third Reformed Church in Holland. In 1991, as a delegate of Classis Holland to General Synod, she was elected vice-president of the Synod. In 1992, she became the first woman in the long history of the Reformed Church to be elected president of the General Synod. In 1997, she was elected president of the Holland Classis of the RCA.

Beth E. Marcus died on October 10, 2006, in Holland, Michigan.