Obituary of Marilyn Troutman Sell, 60

Marilyn Troutman Sell, 60, of State College, died Friday, July 30, 2010, at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Born Oct. 28, 1949, in Lexington, Ky., she was the beloved daughter of Dr. Joseph L. Troutman, of The Woodlands, Texas, and the late Myriam Berger Troutman. On July 13, 1985, she married the love of her life, John C. (Jack) Sell, who survives. Marilyn was a 1968 graduate of Chatham High School in Chatham, Va. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arizona at Tucson in 1973. Marilyn compiled over 26 years of federal service, having worked for the U.S. Department of State, the Navy Department, and most recently as a computer analyst for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, where she retired in 2005.

In retirement, her passion for travel, nature hikes, fly-fishing, playing the piano and spending time with her husband, family and friends dominated her life. Although an Arizona graduate, she became an avid Penn State fan, always cheering on the Nittany Lions. Marilyn was a member of the Chatham Presbyterian Church, Chatham, Va. She was also a member of the State College Women's Welcome Club, Women's Book Club, OLLI at Penn State, and the Village Canasta Club.

Along with her husband and father, she is survived by two stepchildren, John C. Sell Jr. and his wife, Candice, of Peters Township, and Christine A. Pizzi and her husband, Gregg, of Basking Ridge, N.J.; five grandchildren, Lauren, Morgan, Anna, Nicholas and Connor; and two sisters, Sharon Thomson and her husband, Tim, of The Woodlands, Texas, and Myra Spence and her husband, Steven, of Helotes, Texas. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her sister, Jo Ann Troutman.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ken Kline Smeltzer officiating. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033-0852; or visit http://www.pennstatehershey.org/web/cancer/community/giving.