Obituary of Marilyn Ann Daffin Underberg

Marilyn Ann Daffin Underberg – Aug. 4, 1933 – June 8, 2022

Heaven has gained a loving and faithful matriarch. Marilyn was born in Panama City, FL as the eldest of three children to James “Jimmy” Daffin and Marion Kennedy Daffin. Her mother taught at the Panama Grammar School and her father ran the local gift shop and pharmacy. The store was always a place for friends and neighbors to gather. She learned to love swimming and fishing and really enjoyed eating the plentiful seafood gathered from the bay and the gulf.

Inspired by her father, she later went to school at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA and on to the University Of Florida College Of Pharmacy. While there, she was introduced to Alfred Underberg of Tampa, who was in his first year of law school there. He was enchanted by her athletic beauty and courted her through that year and beyond while he was sent overseas by the U.S. Air Force. They married in the First United Methodist Church of Panama City in 1957 and moved to Gulfport and then St. Petersburg to start their careers and a family. In the sixties, they were blessed with Suzanne, Beth and Linda. A tornado suddenly ripped through their home and blew the roof off while she was pregnant with Linda, so friends and neighbors rallied around them to find them a new temporary home. Marilyn was strong and brought her young family through this and many more trials over the years. Mary came along in the seventies and the Underberg family was complete and ready to travel.

Al and Marilyn made a great team: with his talent for planning and wanderlust, she accompanied him on adventures to over 200 countries. She was nicknamed the energizer bunny, always saying “stand right there next to that sign” with a camera at the ready. As a pharmacist for over 50 years, she always helped those in need by working and volunteering at the St. Petersburg free clinic. Thanks to her generous and thoughtful nature she blessed local families, churches, and numerous charities with her time and gifts. She was a faithful active member of the Lakewood United Methodist Church and won many prizes for her hibiscuses, violets and orchids at the St. Petersburg Garden club. She exercised at the YMCA and stayed as active as possible after losing Al in 2013.

She adored her 11 grandchildren and one great grandson and rotated between Pensacola, Jacksonville, Ormond Beach and St. Pete to visit them. She is survived by her sister Carolyn Hoffman (Dudley) of Cincinnati, OH and brother Bob Daffin (Penny) of Panama City, FL. Her four daughters Suzanne Horne (Mark), Beth Webb (Rob), Linda Williams (Mike) and Mary Charbonneau (Chuck).Her grandchildren Alex (Rachel), Megan and Justin Webb, Kyle and Connor Horne, Allison, Logan, Olivia and Elaina Charbonneau, Orion Lightly (Alyx), Brittany Gilmore (Jacob) and great grandson Benjamin.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor to Lakewood UMC would be greatly appreciated. Services will be Sunday, June 12, 2022 at Lakewood UMC at 2:00 PM; a viewing and visitation will begin one half hour prior, at 1:30PM. All are welcome.