Marilyn Jean (Kohinke) Washburn

Marilyn was born on January 19, 1954 to Rev. Theodore Kohinke and Marion B. (Howard) Kohinke in Oneonta, NY. She was the seventh of nine children and was raised in upstate New York. She loved exploring with her siblings and attempted to save, or keep, every animal she found. In high school she became a cheerleader and had many friends. It was there that she met the love of her life, whom she would marry before graduating high school. Unlike today, the 1960’s did not afford the vast opportunities for women to be a student and a Mother at the same time. Marilyn decided she was going to have it all and over the span of her life she proved that women can be whatever it is they choose to be. She married the love of her life in 1970. She worked and raised her daughter while he attended college during the early years of their marriage. Then when opportunity presented itself, she went back to school earning her GED and acceptance to Meramac College in St. Louis, MO. She became a published poet and decided that one day she would like to write a novel. Life would take her family to Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, California, Illinois, Kansas, and back to Ohio. With each move came a renewed spirit to get her novel written. She also decided to study psychology and was accepted to The Ohio State University. She was a Big Sister and truly enjoyed giving encouragement to a young lady in need. Her life lessons may have been difficult, but you would not have known it. She had a generous spirit and truly enjoyed seeing others grow. In 2002 she became a published Author and did not stop with just one! She was also a doting Grandmother of three, a Great-Grandmother of three and a wonderful fur Mom to many lucky animals. In her free time she enjoyed bowling, golf, sewing, gardening, swimming and yoga. Her love of animals could be seen throughout her life in her donations to the Humane Society.

Marilyn is survived by her husband, David C. Washburn; her daughter, Billie Jo Taylor; her grandchildren Zachary (Brianna), Jessica (Benjamin) Axsom, and Victoria (fiancé James) Taylor; her great-grandchildren Addison Jane Taylor, Emily Marie Axsom and Matthew Gregory Axsom; her mother Marion B. Kohinke; her siblings Kathy Ellenberger, Ed (Anne Marie) Kohinke, Dorothy (Andy) Pierce, Steve Kohinke and her sister-in-law Patsye Kohinke; she is also survived by several nephews, nieces, grand nephews and nieces, friends and her current favorite child, Beanie Washburn.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her father, Rev. Theodore Kohinke; her siblings Carol Cummings, Deborah (Gary) Taylor, Theodore (Diane) Kohinke and Clayton Kohinke; her brother-in-law Andy Ellenberger and several beloved fur babies.

The family will receive visitors on Sunday, September 4, 2022 from 12pm-3pm at SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST, 1051 E Johnstown Road, Gahanna.

Interment to take place at Maplewood Cemetery in New Albany, Ohio at a later date.

The family would like to thank Dr. Sam Mikhail, Dr. Fernando Aguila, Amy Jones, RN and their care teams for all the wonderful care they provided during her cancer journey. A HUGE thank you to Mount Carmel Hospice for helping them fulfill Marilyn’s last wishes of staying in the comfort of her own home until the end.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to The ASPCA. More information can be found at aspca.org/guardians.