Mariellen Owens Gilpin

Gilpin—Mariellen Owens Gilpin, 82, on July 24, 2023, at Heritage Health nursing facility in Gibson City, Ill. Mariellen was born on October 7, 1940, the daughter of George Owens and Irene Douglass Owens, in Muncie, Ind. Mariellen grew up on a farm near Pendleton, Ind., with her parents; older brother, Doug; and maternal grandmother, Ella Douglass. Mariellen was involved in many of the farm tasks, including raising vegetables and tending the cows and pigs. After graduating from Pendleton High School in 1958, she left home to attend Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., where she focused her studies on English literature. When Mariellen’s father was diagnosed with cancer two years later, she took a leave from college, moved back home, and took a typing job at a prison to help pay for her father’s medical bills. She helped with many of the farm chores and household tasks.

Mariellen returned to Earlham the following academic year. In the fall of 1961, she met her future husband, John Gilpin, who was teaching mathematics at Earlham and performing research on computer programmed instruction. In 1963, Mariellen earned her bachelor’s degree from Earlham. She and John married that summer in Pendleton. They moved to Champaign, Ill., where John had been working on a research project at the University of Illinois.

Mariellen earned a master’s degree in teaching English from the University of Illinois in 1965. She spent the majority of her career working for the Computer-based Education Research Laboratory (CERL), where she designed instructional materials for PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations). She worked at the lab for 18 years until funding by the U.S. National Science Foundation terminated. Following her stint at CERL, Mariellen worked for several years for Project Pursuit, also at the University of Illinois, writing educational materials for high school students with disabilities.

Quakerism was central to Mariellen’s life. On the first Sunday after Mariellen and John married, they began attending meetings for worship at Urbana–Champaign (Ill.) Meeting. Mariellen became a member of the meeting in 1967. She frequently offered ministry during silent worship. Mariellen was known for her stories. Some were based on her childhood on the farm and were perfect metaphors for spiritual experiences and reflections. She served on many committees at the meeting and as clerk from 2004 to 2007. Mariellen was active in Illinois Yearly Meeting.

Mariellen was well-known for her insightful writing. Her articles appeared in Quaker publications, including Friends Journal; Quaker Life; and What Canst Thou Say? (WCTS), a journal about Quaker mystical experience and contemplative prayer. She served as an editor for WCTS for 21 years. She edited two collections of “real life stories from WCTS”: Discovery of God as Companion and Intimacy with God. Mariellen was the author of a Pendle Hill pamphlet entitled God’s Healing Grace: Reflections on a Journey with Mental and Spiritual Illness.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Mariellen was hospitalized for mental health disorders on several occasions. Her openness about her experiences and her deep empathic listening helped many people face their own mental health and emotional issues.

In 1984, she started attending GROW meetings, a self-help group in Champaign–Urbana. She became a group leader in the organization and wrote articles for its quarterly publication. Mariellen was able to develop a strategy for managing her mental illness and reducing her medications.

Mariellen was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, John Gilpin, in 2021; as well as her parents; a brother, George Douglass Owens; two nephews; one grandniece; and one great-grandnephew.

She is survived by three nieces and nephews; and six grandnieces and grandnephews.