On the evening of May 5, 2018, Marion Virginia Champion (Dennie) entered Heaven’s gate. She spent her final days surrounded by family and love. At the ripe age of 89 she lived to see many changes and advances in the world…the Astrodome, space shuttle, man on the moon, microwave, tv, too many wars, and even computers as phones (which she could never really figure out). Dennie was a devout Christian. Her lifelong Christian faith was unwavering and stayed with her through the good and the bad times.

Dennie was born on March 13, 1929 to Howard Marion and Nellie Lela Benskin. She grew up in a large family with four sisters and one brother. She often joked that being born at the onset of the great depression she and her brother lived a life completely different from her older sisters. As a child she moved approximately twenty five times and lived in at least seven different towns and in anything from goat sheds to hotels and huge homes. At the age of 15 she moved to Houston and got a job working in a café. This is where she first met the Champion family and in turn the love of her life, Lester Champion Sr. By the age of 16 she would marry Les and they would begin their family. They had five children and there was never a dull moment in their home. Having a child with special needs in the 1950’s was a challenge of its own. She was progressive and didn’t even know it in her nonstop efforts to include and educate her son Allan.

Dennie was a devoted care giver of children until the very end. Everyone always seemed to feel at home at her house. Her house easily became the “hang out” for generations of family, friends and neighbors. She was always willing to stop what she was doing and spend time catching up with whoever knocked on the door. Although she spent a lifetime taking care of kids she did whatever it took to assist in supporting the family having held too many jobs to count. In her spare time she enjoyed refinishing furniture, remodeling the house, doing yard work or reading a book if time allowed. She even worked on a wallpaper project at 85, something most people would never even attempt.

Dennie is survived by three of her children, Les Champion Jr. and wife Patty, Steven Champion Sr., Lee Ann Ryan and husband Johnny; all her grandchildren Shelley Furrh and husband Jeff, John Champion, Steve Champion Jr. and wife Stephanie, David Champion and wife April, Allan Champion, Amber Schaefer, Amanda Sharp and husband Jerry, and Samantha Ryan and Kenneth Kleinworth as well as 15 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by both her parents, her husband Lester Champion Sr., her daughter Janis Champion Swinney and her son Allan Champion as well as all of her sisters and her brother. She wore many hats to many people and was loved by all – Known as Mom, Grandma, GG, Aunt Dennie and she will be missed terribly.

The family will accept visitors on Wednesday May 9th from 5-8 and a memorial service will be held Thursday May 10th at 2pm at Rosewood Funeral home located at 2602 South Houston Avenue, Humble TX 77396. . Our family will be forever grateful for the prayers, calls and help from all the people that loved her.