Marjorie Pauline Basinger Hilty, 95, passed peacefully on June 15, 2024 at Willow Ridge Betty House in Bluffton, Ohio.
She was devoted to her family and friends. Marjorie was a thoughtful and generous person. Those who knew her would describe Marj as feisty, kind, smart, and hardworking. She was dedicated to a Life of Peace and Active Good Will.
Marj was born February 18, 1929 and raised in Pandora, Ohio, the daughter of Clement and Lucille (Metz) Basinger, who preceded her in death. Her Brother, Dr. Clair Basinger, and Sister, Phyllis Frank, also preceded her in death.
Marj was married to Mark Hilty, DDS, who passed away in 2015. She is survived by her children Lynn (Terry) Hoffman of Toledo, Mark R (Maryanne) Hilty of Barrington, RI, and Bruce Hilty of Elida, OH.
Also surviving are grandchildren Katie, CJ, and Maria, as well as nieces Marcia, Barbara, Ann, Sue, Nancy, Sara, Kathy, Jean and nephews David, Jim and Bob.
Marj graduated from Pandora High School, where she was valedictorian. She graduated from Ohio State University cum laude with a degree in Dental Hygiene. She married Mark B Hilty in 1950, and they started working together at the family dental practice in Columbus Grove in 1952. Along with Mark's father Alvan and brother Donald, they served the Columbus Grove area with family dental services for a combined 100 years.
Marj was a National and Ohio Dental Hygiene Society member until retirement. When Lima Technical College (Rhodes State University) started a Dental Hygiene program, she was privileged to help set it up and sit on the board for several years.
Marj was a lifelong member of Grace Mennonite Church in Pandora. Marj has served on the Board of Elders and church council. As a member of the Mary Martha Society, she helped to continue the church's tradition of quilt making and wheat weaving, with the annual works donated to the Mennonite Central Committee Auction held each year in Kidron, Ohio. She was also a church representative on the board of Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Michigan. The family attended summer and winter family camps with many of the Mennonite Church families and friends across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan.
In 1973, Marj and Mark, as well as other members of Grace Mennonite Church and the Allen County Mennonite Church Community, helped coordinate support for The Housing Project, which was a mission of the Church of Christ in Zaire. The Housing Project was directed by Millard and Linda Fuller and was from 1973 to 76. The Fullers then went on to set up Habitat for Humanity International in 1976. Marj and Mark and the Grace Mennonite congregation also worked to support local initiatives such as Church People for Change and Reconciliation. They continued to support affordable housing and homeownership efforts like Rehab Project from 1976-90. In 1991, they were instrumental in the establishment of Habitat for Humanity Lima Area.
Marj was a great cook and host. The doors were always open for family and friends at Grove, Bay Point and her villa in Bluffton. You knew there was always going to be enough food.
Marj loved traveling, visiting family and friends, gardening and sharing her harvest with others. She was Mark's tag-along to OSU football games, fishing, Bay Point, skiing and mushroom hunting.
Most of all - towards the end - she enjoyed watching the birds, especially the hummingbirds.
The support of her villa friends Della, Fran and Ruth, as well as Tim and JP, Isaac, Trusty, Keegan, Tim and Brenda, Marybeth and Tim, and Arman and Sue are appreciated more than we can say.
The family would also like to thank the Willow Ridge Betty House staff for their kind, compassionate, loving care.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora, Ohio. A time of fellowship will begin at 3:00 p.m., an hour before the service at 4:00 p.m., with dinner and a time of fellowship to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity - Lima Area.
We thank Chiles-Laman Funeral Home of Bluffton for their kind and caring support.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com/
