Finley high school teacher dies after fall

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

Students and staff at River View High School in Finley are reeling after the unexpected death of a popular English teacher.

Roberta Marlow, 61, who went by "Bobbie," died early Thursday after a fall in the school parking lot the day before.

She taught in Finley for more than 22 years. She started her career there as a music instructor and then began teaching language arts.

She was a serious advocate for colleagues and students but also was known for her sense of humor, friends said. She used to make up silly songs on the spot and had a special way with teens who were falling behind, they said.

"She was able to get them to work in ways that the rest of us couldn't," said Peggy Layman, River View's librarian.

Marlow fell about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday as she was walking to her car. She broke her elbow and shoulder and was taken by ambulance to Kennewick General Hospital, according to information from the school district.

She died at 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

Benton County Coroner Rick Corson said Marlow's injuries, including a cut over her eye, weren't fatal and everything appeared to be fine when she was being treated. An autopsy is scheduled Saturday to determine what happened.

Students and staff at the close-knit Finley school were in shock Thursday over her death.

"It's been a tough day," said Barbara Thoren, an English and Spanish teacher at the school.

She, Layman and Marlow were so close they were known around River View as "The Three Musketeers." They ate lunch together, chatted in the hallways and even worked on their master's degrees together.

Marlow, an accomplished photographer, often gave them and other friends calendars featuring snapshots from her summer travels as gifts.

"She was a very warm and open person, and she had the greatest faith and belief," Thoren said. "I know she's in a place where she'll never hurt again."

School leaders told students first thing Thursday of Marlow's death. Extra counselors were on hand to help them deal with their feelings. There also was support available for staff.

"Everyone loved (Marlow)," said Stephanie Vanourek, 16, a sophomore. "I never heard one bad thing about her. She was always funny, always looking to make the students' lives better."

"She was really nice. She was always upbeat," said Chani Brisby, 17, a senior.

Abigale Hamlin, 14, a freshman, said Marlow had an impact on many students at River View.

"She tried to make us better students," she said. "She really did a lot as a teacher."

Marlow was yearbook adviser at River View High. She also was a leader in the district and served on the bargaining team that negotiated teacher contracts.

"To me, she was a mentor in a lot of ways," said Rachel Merkley, a teacher at Finley Middle School. "She was one of those teachers who you just knew had done a good job and her heart was in the right place."

Marlow's survivors include her two adult daughters. School leaders didn't have information Thursday about a memorial service.

They said Marlow will be greatly missed at River View.

"We're a small community, a small school district. It affects all of us. She was one of us, and she was one of us for a long time," said Superintendent Suzanne Feeney. "She was part of the Panther family."

* Reporter Paula Horton contributed to this story.

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Friday, May. 01, 2009

Finley high school teacher dies after fall

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer