Marjorie "Marj" Gaustad, a resident of the Peninsula since 1988, passed away May 28th, 2015. She was 91 years old. Marj was born in Opelousas, Louisiana on September 12, 1923. In 1942, Marj met the love of her life, Jack Gaustad, a young lieutenant stationed at Camp Polk, Louisiana. They married in January, 1943 and in November their daughter Janet was born. Soon after Jack left for the War. After the war, Jack decided to make the army his career and Marj began her career as an army wife. She moved her family constantly over the years, following her husband. First they were transferred to Fort Knox, Kentucky and over the next few years they lived in Seoul, Korea, back to Fort Knox (where daughter Joan was born), Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama (where they lost their daughter Janet in a tragic accident), to Fort Bragg, North Carolina (where son John Jr. was born) and to Fort Monroe, Virginia (where daughter Patti was born). The family moved to Germany in 1954. The next thirteen years involved moves to Norfolk and Arlington, Virginia, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania and another transfer to Germany where the family lived in Heidelberg, Crailsheim and Bamberg. After three years at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, Marj packed up the family again and moved to Bangkok Thailand in 1967. In Bangkok, Marj was finally able to realize a life-long dream of being a fashion designer. She was hired by "New City Boutique" and designed American style clothes with native Thai Batik fabric and Thai silk. Numerous fashions shows highlighting her designs were held in Bangkok. And her fashion designs were shown on Thai television and featured in newspapers. Articles about her designs appeared in English language newspapers around the world including her home town of Opelousas. After a year with "New City", Marj opened her own shop "Maradee Thai" and "Miss Majoree" designs were exported all over Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong and Hawaii. In 1969, Marj had to leave the world of fashion design behind when her husband Jack was transferred for his last assignment. They moved to Frankfurt, Germany, where Marj continued to stay busy. She was a member of the Frankfurt American Wives Club, the German-American Wives Club and the Cosmopolitan Club. She served on the Boards of each club and was president of the Cosmopolitan Club. She continued her interest in the world of fashion by organizing and hosting numerous fashion shows. In 1972, Jack retired from the Army after 32 years. In those 32 years Marj had moved her family 17 times. She said that she found the best way to build a new life in a new place was to join everything. After Jack's retirement, they stayed in Frankfurt and travelled extensively. In 1974, Marj was hired by American TV Guide Magazine to be their Women's Editor and to write a monthly column. For the next 6 years, Marj wrote "Paging the Ladies" addressing issues of fashion, health, beauty and fitness. In 1976 she was asked to be the keynote speaker at the annual AWAG conference in Berchtesgaden, speaking to over 500 women. She also was invited to speak at other Wives Clubs all over Germany. In 1980, in what they thought was their last move, Marj and Jack returned to Opelousas, Louisiana. After years of living all over the world, they built their first home. Marj as always, found many ways to stay busy volunteering. She and Jack also started the first Volksmarching Club in the area, the Jim Bowie Wanderers. In 1988, in order to be closer to their children, they moved once more to Hampton, Virginia. Marj volunteered at the Shelter for Battered Women and the Yorktown Victory Center Gift Shop. She once again became involved with numerous clubs including the WAWORO (Wives and Widows of Retired Officers), the Ft. Monroe and Langley Spouses Clubs, the Associate Wives Club, the Peninsula Fine Arts Guild and the Red Hatters. Marj and Jack continued to travel, volunteer and spend time with their children and grandchildren. In 2009, Marj's beloved husband of 66 years passed away. In 2011, Marj made her final move to The Arbors in Newport News. She continued to stay active and involved until her death. Marj is survived by her daughter, Joan Gaustad Donato of Richmond, Virginia; son John Jr. and his wife Kathy of Weed, California; daughter Patti and her husband Greg Procopi of Gloucester, Virginia; grandchildren Alexandra, Elena and Leah of Gloucester; and Nicholas Gaustad, step-granddaughters Heather Cervantes and Tristan Holden of California. She was pre-deceased by her daughter Janet Elizabeth, husband Jack Gaustad and son-in-law Gerald Donato. Other survivors include brother A.E.Veltin, Jr. of Opelousas, Louisiana. The family would like to thank the staff of The Arbors and the aides who took such good care of her in her last weeks, Geraldine, Laurie, Pam and Youlonda. A memorial gathering will be held at The Arbors on William Styron Square on Saturday, June 13th at 2:00. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Wounded Warrior Project would be appreciated. Marj will be buried at a later date with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.