Walter Dunlap "Walt" Morrill Obituary (1936

Let Us Pause to Honor the Memory ofMr. Walter Dunlap MorrillMr. Walter Dunlap Morrill, age 84, of Madison, Indiana entered this life on January 11, 1936 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to parents Allen C. and Eleanor Dunlap Morrill. Known as Walt to family and friends, he graduated from high school in three years in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with his twin sister before setting out to make education both his personal and professional quest. His first collegiate milestone entailed a bachelors degree in English from Monmouth College in 1957, then a masters degree in library science and English from the University of Illinois in 1959 and 1960 and additional course work at Indiana University seven years later. On August 18, 1957, Walt married Marcia Simpson who shared both his compassion and commitment to education and enrichment of students. This happy union of 39 years was blessed with three sons, Allen, Matthew and Stephen. Before calling Hanover College and Jefferson County home, he served as a rhetoric instructor at the University of Illinois (1957-1959), assistant catalog librarian (1959-1960) and binding librarian (1960-61) for the University of Illinois Libraries, college librarian at Muskingum College (1961-1965) and assistant director of libraries at Kent State University (1965-1966). His ). ). HThe last library role at the collegiate level came in 1966 when Walt crossed the Ohio-Indiana border to become director of libraries at Hanover College where he oversaw the building of the current library, a position he held for 32 years retiring as director emeritus. Walt then briefly switched focus and became special projects coordinator and later interim vice-president for development, before retiring from Hanover College in 2000. As a life-long librarian, Walt always fulfilled the commitment to be a frontline worker in the world of research, history and self-enrichment. For him, the function of a library was a necessity of life and society whether it be in hard copy or digital format. Walter enjoyed reading, traveling and being an avid fan of his hometown heroes, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Raised in the Presbyterian faith, he was a member of the Hanover Presbyterian Church from 1966-1997, serving as ruling elder and treasurer. Walt later joined Madison Assembly of God Church from 1998 forward, serving as elder. Marcia died on January 29, 1996 and Walt married Elaine Pearson Stevian on December 27, 1997 at the Hanover College Chapel. Walt held many professional memberships, including American Library Association, Indiana Library Federation (former president), Midwest Federation of Library Associations (former president), Executive Committee of Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (director and former president), Indiana State Library Advisory Council (former chairman), Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority (former board director) and National Advisory Council. At the community level, Walt held memberships in the Rotary Club (recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International), Madison Area Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson County United Way, Madison Area Salvation Army, Jefferson County Historical Society, Historic Madison, Inc., Jefferson County Friends of the Library (founding president), Southeastern Indiana Small Business Development Center (board member), Jefferson County Cemetery Commission Board, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Jefferson County (board member) and the Madison Jefferson County Public Library Board. Listed in Who's Who in the Midwest, he was honored by Beta Phi Mu, Sigma Omicron Mu and Phi Delta Kappa organizations, plus received a special service award from the Indiana Library Association/Indiana Library Trustee Association in 1984. Walt died on Monday, December 7, 2020, at 2:13 p.m. at his home in Madison with his loving wife and caretakers at his side. Please Click Here to View the Funeral Service Recording A LOVING FAMILYWalt will be missed by his loving wife of 23 years, Elaine Pearson Stevian Morrill of Madison, Indiana; his sons, Allen Morrill and his wife Susan of Greenville, Pennsylvania, Matthew Morrill of Carmel, Indiana, Stephen Morrill of Sugar Grove, Illinois; his step son, J.D. Stevian and his wife, Sonjia of Morristown, Tennessee; his step son in law, Frank Collins of Ohio; his grandchildren, Thomas (Sarah), Madelene, Annabelle, Griffin, and Jackson; his step grandchildren, Kristen, Jordan, Sierra and Lesley; five great step grandchildren; his twin sister, Trudy Mitchell and her husband, Dean of Madison, Indiana; his sister, Janet Hunter and her husband Terry of Lincoln, Nebraska; his sister-in-law, Diane Gallaher and her husband, David of Napa, California; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Allen C. Morrill, his mother, Eleanor Dunlap Morrill, his wife of 39 years, Marcia Simpson Morrill, died January 29, 1996, his step daughter, Amy Collins, died November 1, 2008, and his daughter-in-law, Diane Morrill, died March 25, 2020. MEMORIAL CEREMONYDue to the Covid 19 Pandemic, Walt's memorial ceremony will be held at a later date to be announced through Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Hanover Cemetery in Hanover, Indiana. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONSMemorial contributions may be made to the Marcia S. Morrill Scholarship Fund or the Hanover College Library Fund. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Hanover and Madison. Online condolences, remembrances and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com Make An Online Memorial Donation To send a flower arrangement in memory of Walter Dunlap "Walt" Morrill, please click here to visit our sympathy store.