DIAMOND, Mo. — Marlin Pinnell was born on April 15, 1919, in Granby, Mo. to Ira Marlin Pinnell Sr. and Mary Kenney.

Marlin went to be with the Lord on Oct. 18, 2012. He is preceded in death by his brothers, George and William Bill Pinnell.

He was a resident of the area most of his life, however, worked out of Picher, Okla. as a bookkeeper and mill worker, then out of Washington DC and St Louis, Mo. for the federal government. He then worked as an ambulance driver out of Ft Crowder. These jobs took him out of the area for a little over three years before he returned to Diamond, to the school where he graduated and began working as an educator, coach, principal and finally superintendent of Diamond R4 School District for 41 years prior to his retirement in 1984. He is widely credited for preventing the annexation of the Diamond School District into the neighboring school districts.

On a personal side, he was an avid tennis player in his younger years and enjoyed golfing with family and friends. He enjoyed the outdoors throughout his life.  He and Jean loved traveling around the country and visiting their family. They loved spending time at their cabin in Cape Fair and going to Branson to see the shows.  Marlin enjoyed watching sporting events, and cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals and Denver Broncos.  Because of his love for sports, he loved managing his sports card shop.

Marlin served on the Crowder Foundation Board, the Crowder Administrators Foundation, The Newton County Library Board and was a charter member of the Diamond Lions Club and a longtime member of Diamond Methodist Church. He received his Bachelors Degree in education from Southwest Missouri State (Springfield Teachers College) in 1939 and a Masters Degree from Pittsburgh State University in 1955.

Marlin married Jean Craig on May 20, 1940 and this summer they were able to celebrate 72 wonderful years together.

Marlin is survived by his wife, Jean; as well as his two daughters, Ticia Pinnell of Diamond, Mo. and Pam Youngblood of Broken Arrow, Okla.; He is also survived by six grandchildren, Chris, Greg, and Doug Capps and Stephanie, Heather and Matt Youngblood; as well as nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held in the Marlin Pinnell Gymnasium in the Diamond Middle School. Visitation will begin at 12 p.m. on Oct. 27, followed by a celebration to honor his life at 2 p.m.  Burial will be at the Diamond Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, his family has requested contributions be made to the Marlin Pinnell annual scholarship fund to benefit higher education c/o Clark Funeral Home P.O. Box 66 Neosho, MO  64850.

Arrangements are under the direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, Mo.

Online condolences may be posted at

www.clarkfuneral

homes.com.