Marie Louise Putney (Flinker)

Loving wife, awesome mother and grandmother, and sweet friend to many, Marie- Louise Magdealene Flinker Putney, 94, of James Island, passed away September 16, 2016. Born in Chicago, IL in 1922, she was the daughter of the late Rudolph and Elsa Flinker. She grew up in Englewood, New Jersey with her brother and best friend Rudy and beloved younger sister Bobbie. She attended Dwight Morrow High School and was a member of the National Honor Society. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Skidmore College in 1944 and then attended graduate school at Vassar College where she also did research at the Woods Hole Marine Biology Laboratory. She received her master’s degree in biology from Vassar College in 1946, and then worked as a physiology researcher at the Medical College of Virginia. It was there she met the love of her life and future husband, Blake Putney. After marrying Blake in 1950, she worked doing research at the University of Minnesota, where Blake was finishing his PhD in pharmacy. The couple moved to New Jersey when Blake accepted a teaching position at Rutgers and they raised three children in the town of Cedar Grove. When her children were older, Marie worked part time as a librarian at South End Elementary School. The family moved to Charleston in 1967 when Dr. Putney accepted a position at MUSC. Marie was employed by the Charleston County library for 20 years and was the first head librarian at the James Island Branch when it opened in 1975. She loved books and reading and some of her favorite times were spent in “Time for Twos”, reading books to local children and acting them out with handmade puppets. She and Blake retired in 1987 and celebrated by taking a one week raft trip down the Grand Canyon with their son Blake. Marie and Blake loved traveling before and during retirement and enjoyed trips to Australia, New Zealand, Hungary, England, Germany, Italy, France, and Japan. But her happiest days were those she spent with her family. She treasured holidays and Sunday dinners with her children and grandchildren. Marie was an active member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church on James Island for almost 50 years, where she sang soprano in the choir, always with a radiant smile on her face. She loved to sing and play the piano at home and she encouraged and inspired a love of music in her children. In her retirement, she was a volunteer with Tri-County Family Services and at MUSC Children’s Hospital for over twenty years. She had a joy of service and passion for life that made a difference wherever she would devote her energy, especially in the lives of her husband, children and grandchildren. She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Dr. Blake Putney; sister Bobbie Taylor; children, Blake Putney, Jr. and wife Marilyn of Palo Alto, CA, Tom Putney and wife Anne Hall of James Island , and Barbara Hildreth and husband John of James Island. Mrs. Putney is also survived by seven beloved grandchildren, Evan Hildreth (Brittany), Jenni Putney, Jesse Hildreth (Virginia), Leah Hildreth, Sam Putney, Will Putney, and Thea Putney. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the Chapel at Bishop Gadsden, 1873 Camp Road, Charleston, SC 29412. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 1-2 pm at the Chapel at Bishop Gadsden. A graveside service will held at 11 am, Saturday, September 24, 2016 at Holy Cross Cemetery, 604 Ft. Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tri-County Ministries of Charleston SC. Expressions of sympathy can be submitted or viewed online at www.mcalister-smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, James Island Chapel.

Service:
Bishop Gadsden Chapel
1873 Camp Road
Charleston, SC
29412