Where Food, Drinks & Stories Are Shared

Charles F. Marsh Jr.

April 24, 1929 - July 25, 2021
Kalamazoo, MI

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/01c/136601/136601-00.jpg

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


Print

Charles F. Marsh, Jr., age 92, died July 25 at Glenn Arbor Hospice Residence in Battle Creek, MI. Charles was born in Kalamazoo on April 24, 1929, the son of Charles and Eulalia Marsh.

Charles lived in Kalamazoo his entire life, graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1947. He attended Michigan State College and earned a BA Degree in Retail Food Administration. Charles worked for many years with his father in the family grocery/butcher shop, Marsh’s Market. He left the market to work for the Michigan Department of Treasury as an Auditor, where he served for 30 years. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Sally (MacKellar) Marsh (d) in 1954 and they started their family in 1956. Charles and Sally celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in May 2014.

Charles had many interests over the course of his lifetime. He earned his Eagle Scout certification from the Boy Scouts of America in 1945, and his love of Scouting carried forward when he and Sally led a Girl Scout Troop for their daughters. An avid outdoorsman, Charles spent countless hours tending the gardens that he and Sally created together at their home in Kalamazoo and at their cottage in Newaygo. Charles had an extensive collection of MARSH tools-MARSH planes in particular -which he collected alongside Sally as she hunted estate sales for vintage quilts. Charles was also a tennis player at West Hills Tennis club, where he played regularly well into his 70s. His other interests included stamp and coin collecting.

Charles is survived by their four daughters; Melanie Marsh (Patrick Shannon) of Houston, Texas, Alison Marsh Williams (Jeff Williams) of Farmington Hills, Leslie Cross (Lonnie Cross) of White River Junction, Vermont, and Jana Marsh Stermer (Dennis Stermer) of Portage. He is also survived by six grandchildren; Lonnie Cross, Jr. (Sonya Cross), Katie Akers (Chad Akers), Christopher Verschoof (Melissa Verschoof), Rachel, Bradley, and Sarah Williams, and by six great-grandchildren; Noah Akers, Kaylee and Jozilyn Cross, Leo, Iyzic, and Emma Verschoof. Charles is survived by his brother, John Marsh (Dorothy Marsh, d.) of Portage, MI., and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Sally Marsh in 2014, and by his granddaughter, Lindsay Cross.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the staffs at Vibrant Life Senior Living (New Friends – Memory Care) in Kalamazoo and Glenn Arbor Hospice Residence in Battle Creek for their kindness and care of Charles in the last years and days of his life. The family plans a private celebration of Charles’ life. He will be interred at Genesee Prairie Cemetery, Oshtemo Twp., MI.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to Alzheimer's Association Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph Rd., Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033 https://www.alz.org/gmc/donate

Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 BetzlerLifeStory.com