Marilyn was born on January 28, 1953, to Hermina and Virgil Unroe of Old North Dayton. She was a graduate of Wright State University, where she earned a Master's degree in Chemistry.

She began her career as a Catholic school teacher before working with the University of Dayton Research Institute from 1979-1982 and later spent 34 years in the Materials Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.  In the Materials Laboratory she was a Research Chemist in the Polymer Branch from 1982 until retirement.

She was a National Society Member of several American Chemical Society Divisions:

     - American Chemical Society, Dayton Section

     - American Chemical Society, Division of Polymer Chemistry

     - American Chemical Society, Polymeric Material Science and Engineering.