Charles Edward Marling

Charles Edward Marling passed away Friday April 3rd, 2009. He was born at Topeka, Kansas on March 23rd, 1918, the son of Richard Edward (Ed) Marling, JR., and Nellie Elizabeth (Baker) . Marling. Charles' wife, Betty Jo (Nigh) Marling of Fremont, Nebraska, a daughter Mary Franzen and a son Mark Marling, eight grand children and six great grandchildren survive him. His great granddaughter, Morgan Pollak, preceded him in death. Charles attended public schools in Topeka, Kansas and graduated from Topeka High School and from Washburn College where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Charles was associated with his father in the Ed Marling store until entering the U.S. Army Medical Corps in June of 1941. He attended the Command and General Staff College and was the administrator of the Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, AR. In November of 1945 he rejoined the Ed Marling firm, remaining there until his retirement in 1983. Charles was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, Trustee and Elder. He was a member of Orient Lodge No. 51 A.F. & A.M., Topeka Shrine Greeters, Consistory of Scottish Rite, Arab Temple Shrine, and Topeka Court of Royal Order of Jesters. Charles had been involved in many community activities and served on the boards of: Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts, the Rotary Club of Topeka, Topeka YMCA, Topeka YWCA, Topeka Salvation Army, Capper Foundation, Topeka Community Foundation, and was appointed by John Carlin to the Kansas Pooled Money Investment Board. Charles also served as President or Chairman of the following organizations: Stormont-Vail Hospital Board, Washburn University Board of Regents, Topeka Civic Symphony Society, Downtown Topeka, Inc, Topeka Council of Churches, Family Service of Topeka, and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. A few of the awards he received include: Topeka High School Alumni of the Year; Kappa Sigma Topeka Alumni Chapter Man of The Year, Washburn Alumni Distinguished Service Award, and Junior Achievement's Topekan of the Year. A memorial service is planned for Wednesday April 15th at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 13th and Boswell, 11:00 AM. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to Westminster Church or the Washburn University Endowment Fund.