Obituary of Marilyn R. Farmer

Mrs. Marilyn Farmer, 77, of Maple Avenue, Canajoharie, New York died Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at her home with her husband by her side. Born on August 2, 1935 in Troy, NY, she was the daughter of Ralph and Hazel Dickson. She lived in East Greenbush, NY and attended Columbia High School. Marilyn attended Potsdam State College and graduated from Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY. She then attended Boston University School of Theology where she met her husband, the Rev. Dr. Robert Farmer of Canajoharie, NY. On September 7, 1963 at the First United Methodist Church in Rensselaer, NY, Marilyn was married to Robert Farmer. Together they celebrated over 49 years of marriage. Mrs. Farmer was very active at the local, Troy Conference, jurisdictional and national levels of the United Methodist Church having served on various committees and agency boards. She served as the President of the United Methodist Women of the Troy Conference, on the Board of Trustees of the Saratoga Retirement Center, on the General Board of Social Concerns, and served as a Lay Delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church which met in Baltimore, MD. Marilyn worked as a grief counselor for Haven of Schenectady for several years. She also worked for the National Health Service Corps. in Vermont. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Hazel Dickson. Mrs. Farmer is survived by her husband, Robert Farmer of Canajoharie, NY; son, Stephen Farmer of Canajoharie, NY; and her brother, the Rev. Gary Dickson of Pownal, VT. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 1:00pm at the Canajoharie United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Richard Chatterton presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, Inc., 20 Otsego Street, Canajoharie, NY 13317. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Marilyn Farmer may be made to the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church at Advance GCFA, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068.