Marie Hirst Yochim, age 92, of 7314 Hughes Court, Falls Church, and former president general of the Daughters of the American Revolution, died Thursday, April 19, at Arlington Hospital.
Ms. Yochim was born February 3, 1920 in Washington DC to Herbert Hirst and Ella Mankin the sixth of eight children. She lived her entire life in the City of Falls Church, except for a brief stint when she and her husband Eldred lived in Arlington. She attended and graduated from the Jefferson Institute School formerly on Cherry Street in Falls Church and the Madison School. She attended the Dulin Methodist Church where her grandmother played the organ. She also attended Strayer College.
Her husband died at the age of 101 in 2006. Mrs. Yochim, one of Falls Church’s most venerable citizens was a 12th generation Virginian and a 10th generation Falls Churchan.
She was a very active Falls Church citizen and her love of country, its history and Falls Church permeated most of her life.
Mrs. Yochim was the 35th President of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), known as the Centennial President General of the DAR, serving in this national leadership position from 1989-1992.
She joined the Falls Church Chapter in 1953, and served in many different chapter and state leadership roles including Virginia State Regent. Her leadership strengthened the National Society in a variety of roles including as the Organizing Secretary General and First Vice President General.
Mrs. Yochim continued to remain an active member after her term as President General. She served as President of the National Officers Club and was a long time champion of the DAR Schools by serving on the Advisory Committee of Kate Duncan Smith DAR School.
After her active service for the DAR she was named Honorary President General. She was a George Washington Fellow and major contributor to the Center for Advancing America’s Heritage. As DAR president, Marie has photos with U.S. Presidents from Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
She was a George Washington Fellow and major contributor to the Center for Advancing America’s Heritage, a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy and The Jamestowne Society.
Marie’s family has 10 generations of history here in the City of Falls Church beginning with Big Chimneys (the site of the first settlement in Falls Church in 1699). Her nephew, Melvin Steadman wrote the pre-eminent history of Falls Church, Falls Church, By Fence and Fireside.
Her ancestry in America goes back to 1607 and she was a member of the Jamestown Society being related one of its first settlers James Thurgood. Her ancestry includes Bill of Rights creator George Mason and former businessmen in Falls Church, the Mankin and Lynch families.
She was instrumental in helping the historic Cherry Hill Farmhouse when the house’s restoration was selected as the City’s Bicentennial project on 1976. She helped by coordinating the DAR resources with the Cherry Hill Farmhouse Committee to provide beautiful period furnishings appropriate to the 1850s period.
Under her leadership of the local chapter of the DAR added a D.A.R. boxwood garden in Cherry Hill Park that was restored in 2007.
The viewing and service will be held at the Columbia Baptist Church, 103 West Columbia Street, Falls Church, VA 22046 (703-534-5700). The viewing is scheduled for 3-7 p.m., Friday, April 27. Services will be at the church at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 28. Following the service burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Falls Church.
Floral tributes may be sent to the Murphy Funeral Home at 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046. Memorial contributions can be made in Mrs. Yochim’s name to the Second Century Fund or the President General’s Project Lay Light Restoration, NSDAR Development Office, 1776 D Street, Washington, DC 20006-5303. Messages of condolences may be sent to Mrs. Yochim’s niece: Mildred Pappas, 7314 Hughes Ct. Falls Church, VA 22046-1923.
Marie is survived by her other nieces, Elizabeth Hirst, Ruby Lee Hirst, Betty Lou Hirst, June Marie Dunn and Ruth Stortz. Nephews are Ronald and William Clatterbuck, and Julian Hirst.
