Obituary of Marilyn Ruth Carlton

Marilyn Ruth Carlton (Vail) departed this life on September 5, 2025, surrounded by the love of her entire family. Marilyn was born in North Plainfield, New Jersey on October 31, 1935, to William J. Vail and Dorothy Sinclair (nee Van Dewater) Vail. Marilyn graduated from North Plainfield High School in 1953, where she was a cheerleader for two years. Marilyn was intrigued with hair from the time she started kindergarten; she was also known to trim her classmate’s hair in between classes in high school; it was no surprise that she became a licensed Hairdresser and worked in a shop for 5 years. She married Paul Leon Carlton in 1957. Marilyn had a very mischievous side which was probably because she was born on Halloween. She loved dressing up in Halloween costumes and playing pranks on neighbors and her soon to be in-laws. She had a few like-minded friends, and Halloween wasn’t over until they played pranks on her. Marilyn was a loving wife and mother. She loved to sew and crochet and made beautiful clothes for her daughters. She also enjoyed embroidery, refinishing furniture, celebrating everyone’s birthdays and cooking on the holidays. In addition, along with her husband, Paul, Marilyn enjoyed working on her High School Reunion Committee for over 50 years. They also enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Alaska, Italy, Florida and Texas. Marilyn wanted to be a stay-at home Mom after the birth of her daughters Cynthia Ann Carlton and Kathy Lynn Carlton (Kostelnik). She and her husband Paul worked hard so she could stay home for her daughters. She was a very loving mother who enjoyed being involved in her daughters’ school and Girl Scouts. Many of her daughters’ friends spent time at her house after school, where they would share the stories of their day. Several of her daughters’ friends became stay-at-home moms because of spending time with Marilyn. In addition to her parents, Marilyn was predeceased by her loving husband of 63 years, Paul Leon Carlton, one sister, Patricia Wintermute, and one niece, Sharon Palmer. Marilyn is survived by her two children, Cynthia Ann Carlton and Kathy Lynn Kostelnik (Carlton); one Son-in-Law, Emil Michael Kostelnik; one cousin, Edgar Vail; two sisters-in-law, Constance Britton and Debra Anderson; two nephews, James Anderson, his daughters, Katie and Megan and Michael (Michele) Anderson; their sons, Nolen and Logan; a niece, Heather Anderson; her, son Ryan as well as Lisa (Kostelnik) Fitzgerald (James), and their daughters, Gracie Shea and Emilia James. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association (https://www.heart.org) or Stein Hospice https://www.wilfcampus.org/hospice-care/ Private funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Piscataway Funeral home 18 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854.