Marilyn Jo (Serbin) Blythe

Marilyn Blythe was born in Coldwater, Michigan on March 4, 1956 to parents Pastor Joseph Serbin and wife Bernice. Less than a year later, her family moved to serve at a church in Cleveland, Ohio, and she was an Ohio Buckeye until her passing into the arms of Jesus on March 1, 2025, 4 days short of her 69th birthday. 

When Marilyn was 5, the Serbin family moved to the Akron area where she attended the Springfield school system from K-12. Marilyn did well academically, as well as being involved in every musical activity available, including drama productions, choir, band, and band chaplain. She was elected into the National Honor Society her junior year, and became chaplain her senior year, as well as becoming valedictorian. She accomplished this while participating in her church’s activities such as youth and choir. She went on to attend Evangel College for a year and returned home to finish her degree at Malone. 

Marilyn and her husband Bob met and married at church, where she remained very active with Missionettes, singing in the choir, playing the piano, leading VBS, acting as treasurer, and serving the Lord. Her faithfulness and dedication to giving back to God was her top priority. 

Everyone that met Marilyn knew her to be sweet, kind, thoughtful, and intelligent. She put others before herself, and when her son Joe was brought home, this was no exception. She left the workforce and remained home to provide a loving and nurturing household. She dedicated her life to making sure her home was filled with faith, understanding, peace, joy, gentleness, self control, and love. 

The legacy she leaves behind with her family, friends, and church body lives on and will continue to inspire service to God’s glory. The happy ending is that Marilyn and Bob are now rejoicing together in heaven along with Pastor Joe and so many other family members and friends. What a blessing to know we will see them again.

Marilyn was pre-deceased by her beloved husband of 40 years, Bob Blythe; father, Joseph Serbin; mother-in-law Marie Blythe and brother-in-law Jim Blythe.

She is survived by her son Joseph, his wife Tabitha and grandchildren Daniel and Ruby Jo; her mother, Bernice Serbin; brother, Richard (Rick) Serbin and wife Sue; sister Sheryl Huff; sister-in-law Jeanie Carpenter; aunts Olga Prem and Frieda Gehlen; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends are invited to visit Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Springfield Assembly of God, 1551 Canton Rd. The funeral service will follow at 12 noon at the church. A private interment will take place at Mount Peace Cemetery in Hartville at a later date. Those who wish may make memorial donations in Marilyn's name to St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital.

To share a memory of Marilyn or leave a special message for her family, visit the guest book below.