Marilyn Worthen Obituary

Marilyn Hope Worthen (neé Smith) passed away on May 12, 2025, in Greenville, SC. She was born on August 8, 1932, to Lillian and Harry Smith of Hollis, Long Island, New York. Shortly thereafter, they moved to East Williston, New York, where Marilyn attended elementary school, Friends Academy, and North Side High School, before attending Bucknell University where she majored in Spanish and French. Although an only child, she was surrounded by many cousins on both her mother's and father's side. At Bucknell, she met her husband of 61 years, Hugh Joseph Worthen of Bennington, VT, and the Bronx, NY, who passed away in 2015. She was a loving and devoted mother to her two sons, William Worthen of New York, NY and Wade Worthen of Greenville, SC. After living briefly in Vermont, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, the family settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts, where they lived for 42 years. Marilyn was energetic and effervescent, a lively conversationalist at ease in any social situation. She hosted many bridge clubs in Sudbury, and she loved to go antiquing throughout New England. Marilyn and Hugh moved to Sun City in Bluffton, SC, in 2005. She made many dear friends and really enjoyed square dancing, playing bocce, and a good bourbon. In 2021, Marilyn moved to the Woodlands at Furman in Greenville, SC, where she again made many friends and enjoyed a new beginning. In addition to her two sons, she is survived by grandson Joseph and his partner, Rachel Ewing; granddaughter, Kathleen Lowrey and her spouse, Nathan Lowrey; Wade's spouse, Jean Childress and her daughter, Mallary Taylor; Bill's partner, Talley Murphy; nieces, Judith Gevry of Fair Haven, VT, Jane Eaton of Woodstock, VT, and nephews, Robert Worthen, Jr. of Oviedo, FL, Michael Worthen of Durham, NC, and their families. Her Memorial Service will be on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown Chapel. Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Marilyn Hope with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory". To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marilyn, please visit our floral store.