John D. and Marilyn Schilling Cont.

John d. and Marilyn Schilling retired to Spencer County's Luce Township in November 1979.  John was from the cold climate of Michigan's Upper Peninsula but Marilyn was born and reared around Rockport.  They met in Pontiac, Michigan, where Marilyn was a secretary at the Pontiac Division of General Motors and John was a Trainmaster for the Grand Trunk Division of the Canadian National Railroad.  They married in 1955.           

Marilyn's mother, Hallie Miller of Rockport, was their only living parent.  As they were planning their retirement, they chose to retire "Back home again in Indiana."  Upon retirement they became active members of several local clubs and organizations.  They soon made many new friends.  Marilyn recalls telling John, "Be careful what you say to people about someone because so many of us are ‘kin' to each other." 

They chose Florida as their home away from home during the frigid winter months of Indiana so they could enjoy year-round golf.  John's happy retirement ended when he passed away in 1999.  Marilyn continues to reside in their rural home in Luce Township.  With her play on words, Marilyn told Barbara Hinton, past Spencer County Community Foundation Director, "My claim to glory is that Marilyn Monroe was named after me- in fact, it was several years after me."