Frederick "Ray" Marsh

Frederick "Ray" Marsh, a television and radio personality in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast for 30 years, died Monday at his Palm Beach Gardens home, his family said. He was 82.

From the late 1960s through the 1980s, Mr. Marsh's familiar voice crackled in several incarnations from black and white televisions and AM/FM radios.

His tours of duty included stints in the 1960s at Channel 12 and Channel 5, where he was anchorman, weatherman and announcer, in addition to his years as a morning host at radio stations in West Palm Beach and Stuart.

Born in Cambridge, Ohio, Mr. Marsh began his radio career in the 1940s hosting a 15-minute program at a small-town Ohio station. It was called The Hired Hand. In addition to his speaking duties, he sang and played guitar.

In the early and mid-1950s he moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he worked at two local stations as a news announcer - an early, decidedly low-tech manifestation of the news anchors who today read the headlines from electronic viewing prompters.

After stints at Channel 5 and Channel 12 in West Palm Beach, he returned to radio, hosting morning shows at WHLG FM in Stuart and WNJY FM in West Palm Beach.

"He was at home behind the microphone or the camera," said his son, Barry Grant, who followed his father's example to become a Treasure Coast radio personality in his own right

"He was just a consummate entertainer."

Survivors include Mr. Marsh's wife, Marilyn; another son, Randy; a sister, Jeanette Kitz; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A viewing will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Howard-Price Funeral Home in North Palm Beach.

A funeral service will take place there at noon Friday.