Marian Townsend

Marian Townsend, age 97, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 4, 2022. She was surrounded by family in the comfort of her home. Marian was born on April 4, 1925, in White County, Indiana, to the late Merle and Anna Marie (Dempster) Martin.

Growing up, Marian attended a one-room school house where she developed her astute auditory and visual learning abilities. She used these gifts in her lifelong pursuit of knowledge. She could identify and mimic hundreds of bird calls as well as plants and other wildlife, and she was a self-taught expert in Native American history and artifacts. She loved to travel, going to Israel at the age of 76. Wherever Marian went, she was known for her independent and adventurous spirit, with which she shared incredible love for the Lord to everyone she met. She learned to enjoy her life as an Upland farm wife, taking country walks, listening to the birds, enjoying nature, and working hard alongside her husband in the operations of the farm.

Honors and affiliations include: Oak Chapel UMC Women of Great Faith, Upland Mennonite Church (now Upland Community Church) and mission board, Grant County Homemakers Association, Girl Scout leader, Audubon Society, Asherwood Nature Center, White River Archeology Association, Wandering Wheels ministry, and charter member of Mississinewa 1812.

She married George Oren Townsend in April of 1959 and they moved to the Upland farm after marriage. Marian had four children, Marcella A. (Tom and Judy) Mallet, Janice L. Kinder, Dr. Linda L. (Daniel J.) Lincoln, DNP, and Dr. Oren G. Townsend, M.D. (Mark DiPaolo). Her crowning achievement was getting to see her 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She raised her family in the love and dedication of the Lord.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Merle and Anna Marie; husband, George; daughter, Marcella Mallet; son-in-law, Gregory Kinder; four brothers, Merle, Hugh, Jack, and Dempster Martin; and two sisters, Nancy Martin and Carol Schroeder.

The family would also like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Stillwater Hospice for the excellence in care they provided to Marian.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Jones-Smith Chapel of Armes-Hunt Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 259 North Main Street, Upland, Indiana 46989, where a visitation will take place on Thursday, December 8, 2022, from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m., with Dr. Ed Meadors officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Grant County Rescue Mission, for the Open Heart Women's Shelter, 423 South Gallatin Street, Marion, Indiana 46953. Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com.