Marilyn Furnas Asbury's Obituary
ASBURY, Marilyn Furnas, age 93, of Waynesville, passed away Thursday, December 12, 2024, at Ohio’s Living Quaker Heights in Waynesville.
Marilyn graduated from Bethel High School, class of ’49. After graduating, she was a bookkeeper for a local Ford dealership. She was a lifelong farmer’s wife and always kept the books for the farm; she was very organized. She was well known for her license plate that said, “ Eat Ham,” in support of raising hogs on the farm. She was a huge 4H supporter and was also a member of the Farm Bureau Group. In the 1950’s, she she started a monthly card club that played 500. She was in a bowling league for a while and even played a 300-game.
She was very generous and had a heart of gold, but was well known for her spitfire personality. If she went to the grocery, it was common for her to swing by your house after with a bag of goodies she thought might be helpful. She married David Furnas in March of 1956 and was blessed with a wonderful marriage of 23 years before he passed in March of 1979. Don Asbury and his brother, Bill, were David’s good friends and partners in farming when David passed. Don’s friendship and companionship grew between Marilyn and Pam as the years passed by after David’s passing. One summer, Marilyn and Pam were going to head to Myrtle Beach. Don had come over for dinner. Pam jumped at the chance of inviting him along, much against her mom’s wishes. Not too long after the trip, Don asked Marilyn for her hand in marriage. They married in July of 1983. When it was time to bail hay and straw, Marilyn and Pam together would make cookies and ice cream for the guys to have as a treat when they got done. When the Christmas season came around, they baked every day, passing out goodies to family and friends. The family will always cherish the Fourth of July parties at her house and going to her house on Christmas Eve. Don passed in July of 2011 after 28 years of being together. In November 2019, Marilyn finally sold the family home to a very caring family that wanted to keep it as a farm for their grandchildren to enjoy.
Marilyn loved to grow roses and snapdragons. She loved cats and always had one around her house. She liked cats so much she would make ceramics of cats. Reading was a passion of hers. She read everything that Quaker Heights had to offer and everything that the Mary L. Cook Library had to offer when they dropped off books for her. In addition, she enjoyed word searches and jigsaw puzzles. She would always take the chance to place a bet on a horse. She cherished the trip to Las Vegas with Pam and Becky. Don flew a Cessna, and she looked forward to the many trips they took in his plane. She hated bugs and snakes and always had the pest control company on speed dial. She loved Clint Eastwood movies and watching NASCAR. She liked NASCAR so much that if they went to eat someplace, they had to be back home in time to watch the race. Among many things, she will be remembered for the love she had for her family, especially her granddaughter, Becky.
The family wished to extend a big THANK YOU to the Wayne Township paramedics for being so kind whenever Marilyn called; to Dr. Papanek, all the nursing staff, and volunteers at Quaker Heights, and Ohio Living Hospice for the excellent care they provided for her; for Pete Wical for always taking care of Marilyn and providing opportunities for Becky to spend the much needed time with her grandma; and the Shinkle family for continuing to help farm the land since David had passed.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her first husband, David Furnas, in 1979; her second husband, Donald “Don” Asbury, in 2011; her parents, Ray and Julia Marksberry; and one brother, Ray Marsberry Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Pam Wical; granddaughter, Becky (Devin) Goehring; and three great-grandchildren, Delainey, Isla, and Lachlan.
Funeral service will be at 11 am on Wednesday, December 18, at Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home in Waynesville. Brian Blankenship will be officiating. Burial will be at Miami Cemetery in Corwin. The family will receive friends from 10 - 11 am Wednesday at the funeral home. If desired, contributions may be made to Warren County Livestock Judging Team, 320 Silver St., Lebanon, Ohio 45036. Condolences at www.stubbsconner.com.
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