Marilyn Faye (Whited) Durnell, age 82, of Greenfield, Indiana, departed for Heaven on December 13, 2023.

Marilyn was born at home in Springfield, Ohio to Harry Whited, Sr. and Annie Margaret (Evans) Whited.

She graduated from Central High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1959. She was married to Stanley J. Durnell on May 13, 1961 and they welcomed their first child in 1963. In 1972 she graduated with a degree in Medical Technology from the Indiana University School of Medicine at Indianapolis, and received a diploma in Medical Technology from the St. Francis School of Medical Technology in Beech Grove, Indiana. In 1982 Marilyn and Stan made the decision to home school their younger children. This decision defined their lives for multiple decades. Marilyn has taught and tutored hundreds of home-educated, private and public school students over the years, in addition to being a listening ear to mothers and fathers needing counsel with their schooling challenges.

In 1998 she co-authored a High School Biology text book which was published by Apologia Educational Ministries. It is still in use around the world. Marilyn was listed in the Who's Who in American Education three separate years. From 1997-2009 Stanley and Marilyn were members of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Association of Home Educators during which time they traveled across the state of Indiana and across the country speaking at Home Educator Conventions. Marilyn loved her husband, Stan and their eight children dearly. They graciously welcomed their seven sons and daughters-in-law into their hearts, and prayed daily for their 35 grandchildren.

Marilyn is survived by her husband, Stanley Durnell; children, Christopher Durnell (wife: Louise); Katherine Tedrow (husband: Gary) and their children, Stephen, Daniel, Joshua, Abigail, Caleb, Joseph, Anna and Jeremiah; Cynthia Durnell; Timothy Durnell (wife: Megan) and their sons, Timothy (wife: Jasmine), John (wife: Amber), Nathaniel, and Elliott; Patricia Benjestorf (husband: Jason), and their children, Hannah Gray (husband: Aaron), Josiah, Naomi, Isabelle, Adah, Samuel, Phoebe, Rebekah, and Gabrielle; Rebecca Christopher (husband: Jonathan) and their children, Elijah, Isaac, Judah and Petra; Elizabeth Lawrence (husband: David) and their children, David, Gabriel, Audrey, Aaron, and Lyra; and Benjamin Durnell (wife: Rachel) and their children, Anastasia, Isaiah, Rosalie, Theodore and Alexander. She is also survived by her sisters, Judy Hill and Nancy Koomler (husband: Greg); a brother, Harry Whited, Jr. (wife: Kelly) and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Annie Margaret Whited; a sister, Peggy Van Gundy and brothers-in-law, David VanGundy and Ray Hill.

Visitation will be held from 4 -7 pm, Friday, December 15, 2023 at Brown’s Chapel Wesleyan Church 994 North County Road 600 East, Greenfield, IN 46140.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Brown’s Chapel Wesleyan Church. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery in Greenfield.

You may send the family a personal condolence at www.heritagefuneralcares.com.

The Hunt family and Heritage staff are honored to serve the family of Marilyn Durnell.