The Shadow
Marylou Markham Fischer
Marylou Markham Fischer died on November 20, 2025 at the The Haven at Brandermill Woods in Midlothian after a brief illness.
She was born on September 14, 1927 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the oldest child of Patrick Graham Markham and Clara Fulcher Markham. She was predeceased by her three younger brothers. She graduated from E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, graduating in 1948. Her first semester there, she met George Ludwig Fischer in chemistry class and they married on July 16, 1949. They were inseparable until his death in September, 2020.
Marylou taught chemistry at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College while raising two daughters. In the early 1970’s, she went back to school at Hollins College and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology in 1974. She became the Director of Social Services at Allegheny Regional Hospital, working in discharge planning until her retirement in 1990.
After retirement Marylou and George moved to Niceville, Florida and enjoyed years of traveling together, entertaining friends and supporting local cultural events. She and George were each other’s biggest supporters and their long and happy marriage was an anchor and a beacon for their family.
She is survived by her two daughters, Clare Fischer-Davies Schoenberg (Gary) and Sheila Fischer Dawson (Woody), and four grandchildren: Andy Birch, Mary Davies, Patrick Dawson, and Conner Dawson.
A funeral service will be held on December 20 at 11am at Bennetts Funeral Home in Richmond, with internment to follow at Hollywood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local animal rescue; Marylou loved her pets. George often said he wanted to be reincarnated as her dog.
