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Thomas Marshall Obituary
AGE: 82 • Hockessin, DE
Dr. Thomas Vincent Marshall, a longtime resident of Fairfax, passed away on August 19, 2015 after living a life full of love and family. He is survived by his loving wife and partner of 58 years, Vivian, and his children Sue Denton (Tommy), Mike Marshall, Barb Williams (Larry), Ann Wehner (John), Bill Marshall (Jayne), Matt Marshall (Mary Kate), Cathie Marshall, Rich Marshall (Jenny), Carrie Marshall, Mark Marshall, and Jason Marshall (Chelsea). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Theresa (Tyler), Katie, Sarah, Christine, Caitlin, Carol, Erin, Alexis, Sam, Sophie, and Sabrina. Tom was preceded in death by his brother Jim, his sister Helen, and sister-in-law Corona. He is survived by his siblings, Bill Marshall (Nancy), Dick Marshall, and Mary Marshall Ugianskis (Cesare).
Tom was born in 1933 to Lowell and Lorraine Marshall and raised in Serena, Illinois. He graduated from Serena High School in 1951, and earned his B.S. in Chemistry magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1955. He received his Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1960.
Tom joined DuPont in 1959, and worked there for 37 years, primarily as a Technical Marketing Specialist at the Fibers Marketing Center. In retirement, he became a regular participant in extension classes offered by the University of Delaware, and took up several other pursuits, including Tai Chi, which he taught to fellow residents of Cokesbury Village. An avid cyclist, Tom completed the MS Society Annual 150 mile Bike to the Bay seventeen times, including his last one at the age of 80. He was often joined on the ride by some of his children.
He was active in the Catholic Church, serving as a lay minister and Sunday school teacher. He participated in the Cursillo movement, and also served with Vivian as pre-Cana teachers. Through Catholic Social Services, Tom and Vivian fostered nine children awaiting adoption.
Tom was an engaging personality who drew people in with his kindness and warmth. With a wonderful sense of humor, he was always ready to tell or hear a joke. He embraced every community he was part of and lived a life of service to others. Tom and Vivian created a house full of affection, caring, and laughter, and their love affair serves as an inspiration for their children.
Funeral services will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 4701 Weldin Rd, Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday, August 26. Visitation begins at 10 am, followed by Mass at 11 am. A reception will begin at 12:30 pm at Cokesbury Village, 726 Loveville Rd, Hockessin, Delaware.
Contributions can be made in lieu of flowers to the Ministry of Caring, www.ministryofcaring.org.
The Marshall family would like to thank the staff at Cokesbury Village and Vitas for the wonderful care and support they have given our family.
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Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Marshall
September 5, 2016
To the Marshall family
Katrin Ciaffa
November 18, 2015
On behalf of the clients and staff at Helen Vine Recovery Center, please accept our condolences. Mr. Marshall was a wonderful man and his support of the Helen Vine Center through the Joseph Drown Foundation made a difference in hundreds of lives affected by addiction and mental illness. We are so grateful for his philanthropy and deeply sorry for your loss.
Dale Bredesen
October 20, 2015
My laboratory colleagues and I, as well as the entire Buck Institute, are saddened to learn of Tom's passing. We are grateful for his visionary support of our work to develop a successful treatment for Alzheimer's disease, and indeed his support through the Drown Foundation helped us to publish the first cases of reversal in the early stages of the disease. Tom was an inspiration to many of us, and we will always be grateful for his sincere interest in research to alleviate human suffering.
Dale Bredesen, MD
Founding President
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
September 11, 2015
what a quality man I am very sorry for you're loss
jack brigham
September 8, 2015
To the Marshall Family: I was saddened to read of your loss. Thomas was a great example of a Renaissance Man - full of life, wonder, joy, and intellectual curiosity, and multiple talents.
Although he enjoyed a long, rich life, I know you will miss him every day. Yours in sympathy,
Suzanne Dunwell
Ralph Cicurel
September 4, 2015
To Helen and family: so sorry to hear of the passing of Tom. We snared many good times with you two! At your home, on golfing trips and in Hawaii. Louise joins me in sending love and prayers. God Bless. Ralph
Sherryl Burris
August 26, 2015
So sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and the family.
Gregory Davis
August 25, 2015
Gregory E. Davis, Ph.D.
May the Marshall family remain in God's watchful eyes.
Priscilla Rakestraw
August 25, 2015
To the Marshall family from the Ministry of Caring family.
Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers are with you at this very sad time. May God's love give you strength and may your wonderful memories bring you comfort. Thank you for remembering Tom's life by caring for the poorest among us.
Brother Ronald Giannone, OFM Cap
Julie Linkins
August 25, 2015
Rich, may fond memories of your father comfort you and your family as you move through this difficult time.
With deepest sympathy,
August 24, 2015
DEAR VIVIAN:
TOM AND YOU HAD ME FOR DINNER WHEN I WAS TRANSFERRED TO WILMINGTON IN 1972,AND I REALLY ENJOYED MEETING YOUR LARGE FAMILY.I REMEMBER TOM TELLING ME THAT I HAD TO HAVE A FAST FORK AT YOUR TABLE.YOU TWO SIMPLY AMAZED ME THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO RAISE SUCH A LARGE,WONDERFUL FAMILY.
I REALLY ENJOYED ALL THE YEARS WORKING WITH TOM AS HE WAS A BRILLIANT ,SUPER NICE GENTLEMAN.HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL.
SINCERELY,
BILL BURNS
Kathy Schaefgen Schultz
August 24, 2015
Mrs. Marshall and family,
My sincere condolences to you all for the loss of your husband/father. We all have fond memories of him and sharing time at the folk mass together.
- All the Schaefgens
Jim Chance
August 24, 2015
With prayers and deepest sympathies for the Marshall family.
Mary Welch
August 23, 2015
Dear Vivian,
You and Tom have always been an inspiration to Jim and me from the first time that we met you and your family at St. Mary Magdalen Church. Know that you all remain in my heart and prayers as you go through this difficult time. May your faith and the love and suport of family and friends bring you all comfort and peace.
With sympathy and love,
Mary Welch
Lloyd Luzerne Thoms III
August 23, 2015
Condolencies and sympathy to the family, friends and acquaintances.
From a former DuPont Textile Fibers employee and retiree.
John Wahl
August 23, 2015
Poor Mr. Marshall. What a great human being, in so many ways. The patriarch of a wonderful loving family.
August 22, 2015
Sincere condolences to all the Marshall family. -Tom "Butch Dundon" Silverfield
John Nacci
August 22, 2015
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Judith Levine
August 22, 2015
Dear Matt and Mary Kate,
I am filled with sorrow at the loss of Matt's beloved father. It is a special kind of sorrow to lose a parent. May the One who brings peace, bring peace to your two and to your families as you mourn. May his name be for a blessing.
Charles Whealton
August 22, 2015
I don't even know what to say. Your family is like an extension of my own. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are the best and I'm sad beyond words to know that Mr. Marshall is no longer with us.
Margaret Spurrier
August 22, 2015
Our thoughts are with all of you as you say goodbye to a wonderful man.
Margaret (Espy) and Bob Spurrier
Katie (Marshall) Madison
August 22, 2015
Love and prayers to the entire Marshall family.
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