9/26/2001
Funeral services for Marian Louise Flanders, 86, of Knoxville, who died on Wednesday,
September 26, 2001, at Pella Regional Health Center, were held on Saturday September
29, at Bybee & Davis Funeral Home. Rev. Peter J. Peterson officiated at the services.
Interment was at Graceland Cemetery. CasketChrismanere Gene Hays, Joe Conway, Frank
Dugger, Norman Chrisrnan, Steve Coon, Corwin Mott, Myron Thompson and Richard Hindman.
Honorary casketbearers were Van Fast, Bill Goff, Ruben Moon, Ralph Porter and Russell
Norton.
Marian was born August 12, 1915, in Milo, the daughter of John and Martha (Conway)
DeWitt. She graduated from Knoxville High School in 1931 and attended the American
Institute of Business in Des Moines. Other than spending four years in Centralia,
Mo., she was a life-long Marion County resident.
She married Marvin Flanders on May 31, 1941 in Lancaster, Mo. She began living in
her Knoxville home in 1942 while Marvin was in the Air Corps in Europe. On his return
in 1946 they continued to live there for 55 more years.
Marian was employed as a secretary for 40 years, first at the Farmers Co-op, then
at the Marion County Farm Bureau. She served as Chief Clerk of the Selective Service
board from October 16, 1940, until it closed in 1947, and then worked 15 years as
Deputy Clerk of the District Court. She retired as a secretary from the Veterans
Medical Center in Knoxville.
She enjoyed writing poetry for special occasions for her friends. She played bridge
with two groups and she and Marvin enjoyed playing golf.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and
Ruth Circle. She was also a member of the National Association of Retired Federal
Employees, Marion County Hospice and the Golden Oldies Kitchen Band. She enjoyed
entertaining at nursing homes and senior centers.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Robert DeWitt; a sister, Roma
Anderson; and her husband, Marvin.
She is survived by two nieces, Sue DeWitt of Bismarck, N.D. and Martha Jane Roper
of California; a nephew, Robert DeWitt of Iowa City; and other nephews and many
loving and caring friends.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Radio Ministry or organization
of the donor's choice.
Arrangements were made by Bybee & Davis Funeral Home.