Marilyn M. (Beehler) Bullard, 91, died at home surrounded by her family, Sunday, April 17.

Marilyn was born Nov. 9, 1924, in Madison Township, St. Joseph County, to Adam P. Beehler and Emma B. (Schurr) Beehler.

She married Herman L. Bullard, a farmer from Elkhart, June 8, 1947. Herman passed way June 16, 2010.

Marilyn is survived by her sister-in-law, Margaret Beehler of Columbus, Ohio; daughter, Michelle (David F.) Blough of Goshen; and two sons, Kurtis L. (Elizabeth) Bullard and Kevin E. (Cynthia Rardin) Bullard, both of Elkhart. Also surviving are two nephews and one niece and their children; eight grandchildren, Morgan (Shawn) Vanderwall, Emilie Blough, Craig (Jessica Herschberger) Blough, Sam, Peter and Alex Bullard, Maxie Rardin, Cara(Gangwer-Blough) and Joel Brovont; and six great-grandchildren.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, James E. Beehler; and grandson, Derek F. Blough.

Marilyn was a former member of the Married Women's Club and Antique Study Group at the YWCA in Elkhart. She was a longtime member of St. John's United Church of Christ, teaching Sunday school, serving on the Social Concerns Committee and as a member of the choir. She was chairperson of the Foster Children's Program.

She was an avid antique collector and Notre Dame women's basketball fan. Marilyn enjoyed drives through the countryside with Herman, being an advisor and mother and being a country girl and homemaker.

Marilyn was a 1942 graduate of the former Madison Township High School in St. Joseph County. She worked in the Agricultural Adjustment Association office in the South Bend Courthouse and measured the acreage of farm fields from aerial photographs using a planimeter. She was also secretary in the St. Joseph County Schools superintendent's office, also located at the Courthouse. At that time, there were 22 St. Joseph County schools.

The family will receive friends two hours prior to the 2 p.m. celebration of life service Friday, April 22, at Walley-Mills-Zimmerman Funeral Home, 700 E. Jackson Blvd. in Elkhart. Pastor Helen Nusbaum will preside.

Burial will follow at Rice Cemetery in Elkhart.

Mrs. Bullard and the family request that expressions of sympathy be given to Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org or to the Center for Hospice.

To share an online condolence, visit www.wmzfh.com