Dr. Robert H. "Bob" Marshall

1925 - 2022

DR. Robert H. Marshall (Bob) passed away on September 23, 2022.

He was born June 26, 1925 to Edwin and Ethel Marshall in Decatur, Illinois in the middle of the state. They moved to a farm near Decatur and he attended a country one room grade school. They moved to Cerro Gordo, Illinois, also near Decatur, where he attended high school. As valedictorian he was automatically awarded a scholarship to Illinois State University. World War II was in progress and after 2 years he attended U.S. Naval Midshipman's school at Cornell where he obtained the rank of Ensign. His assignment was to LST 1089, a bow-door opening ship that carried 1100 tons of Ammo for use in the Pacific. After the war and the decommissioning of the 1089, he was transferred to LST 1142 to be commanding officer during its decommissioning. After release from the Navy, he returned to Illinois State and completed his BS and MS degrees in Physical Science, then he went to the University of Illinois for a Ph.D. in chemistry. He worked as a research chemist for Ethyl Corporation in Detroit and Baton Rouge for four years. Then he taught chemistry at Louisiana Tech for two years. From 1960 to 1989 he taught chemistry at Memphis State University. For 4 summers he was visiting professor at the University of Illinois, teaching an advanced inorganic chemistry class open to seniors and graduate students. After retirement, he taught organic chemistry at Christian Brothers University in Memphis for one year. His favorite recreational activities were square dancing, ballroom dancing, and playing bridge. He was caller for the Cotton Boll Squares and the Golden Squares. Since 2009 he lived at Kirby Pines Retirement Community in Memphis.

He never married and leaves no close relatives. In his will, he leaves $50,000 to the Memphis Union Mission to feed the homeless. The remainder of his estate is to provide scholarships to the Valedictorians or other highest seniors of Cerro Gordo High School.