By Chris Mayhew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FORT THOMAS - Marjorie L. Miller Stine was the first person who greeted - and sometimes treated - patients at her husband's pediatric practice in Fort Thomas for many years. Mrs. Stine died Monday at St. Luke Hospital in Fort Thomas. She was 84.

"Dad said she always was his best P.R. person," said her daughter, Winifred L. Stine of Fort Thomas.

She was a trained pediatric nurse who would often treat the patients of her husband, Dr. Fred Stine IV, with a smile and the genteel hospitality she was known for.

"I still run into people who say, 'I remember your mom from the office,' " said Winifred Stine.

Mrs. Stine graduated from Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. She moved to Cincinnati where she became a chief surgical floor nurse at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati in 1947.

In 1948 she was a surgical nurse at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fort Thomas. She married in 1949.

Born in Chattanooga, Tenn., Mrs. Stine grew up in Asheville, N.C., near the famous Biltmore Estate.

It was there her parents taught her proper etiquette for entertaining and Southern charm.

"She loved to entertain, she was real Southern in that respect," her daughter said.

Her son, Fred A. Stine V of Fort Thomas, said his mother was the pillar of the family, but was also active socially, especially within the Campbell County Republican Party.

"She's always been the 'Grand Dame' of the family; the glue that held everybody together," her son said.

She was silly, cute and witty, said another daughter Marjorie S. Kimball of Fort Thomas.

"She was the heart, soul and foundation of this family," Marjorie said.

Other survivors include her sons, Dr. Thomas C. Stine V of Fort Thomas, and Howard B. Stine of Highland Heights; and 10 grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at A.C. Dobbling & Son Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Service will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Fort Thomas. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.

Memorials: St. Paul's Child Care Center or Fort Thomas Weekday Religious Education Center, care of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 3 Chalfonte Place, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075.

E-mail cmayhew@enquirer.com