Ross K. Marion

Ross K. Marion , 85, of Poplar Bluff died Monday, Sept. 13, 2010 at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff.

Mr. Marion was born Sept. 28, 1924 in Beulah, Mo., and was of the Baptist faith. He served with the U. S. Army Air Force from May 12, 1943 to Oct. 24, 1945 in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and Central Europe as a Teletype Operator. While overseas Mr. Marion worked with the 8th Army Air Force and in the headquarters of the 2nd Army Air Force. During his time of service he was awarded 6 Bronze Stars. In 1947, Mr. Marion joined the U. S. Forest Service and retired in 1979 as the Administrative Officer for the Superior National Forest in Duluth, Minn. He was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), life member of the Eastern Forest Service Retirees Assoc. and a Life member of the American Legion Post 153 in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Marion enjoyed watching wildlife and birds in his backyard, gardening and traveling in their motor home.

On June 10, 1949, he married Reba Carman in Poplar Bluff. She survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Kaye Sparkman and husband Gary of Poplar Bluff; a son, Ross Kent Marion and wife Linda of Waterville, Maine; 4 grandchildren, Erik, Lana, Matthew and Mallory; a brother, Gerald Marion and wife June of Licking, Mo.; and 19 nieces and nephews.

His parents, Willie and Rosa (Lynch) Marion, a sister, Billie Ramsey and a brother, Jack Marion preceded him in death.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Chapel with Pastor Lloyd Steinshouer officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at 12 noon at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Memorials may be made to the American Lung Assoc., 1118 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139, or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.