Don Welch Marsh

1948 - 2022

Don Welch Marsh

1948-2022

Taylorsville, UT - Don Welch Marsh was born to Mearle C. and Virginia Welch Marsh on the 11th of January, 1948, in Ogden, Utah. He was the first of eight children. Don enjoyed many fun times and ballgames in his early youth with "the Marsh boys" in Rose Park.

It was Don's kindergarten teacher who noticed his unusual rhythm abilities and encouraged his parents to get him a drum to play, thus setting off a remarkable life for Don as a professional musician. Among his many accomplishments were these: From 1964-66 he was the featured soloist or outstanding musician at seven different music camps, one of which was the Interlochen National Music Camp Don attended on scholarship where he performed with the touring concert band and the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 1966 he was awarded a Ford Foundation Study Grant to the Hampton Institute and was co-winner of the best jazz instrumentalist award of the Utah High Schools. Don was percussionist and timpanist with the Utah Youth Symphony between 1960-66; he was head percussionist and timpanist for the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus for 30 years. Another notable achievement for Don came in competition at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. where he was judged the outstanding jazz percussionist of America in 1972. Don played the vibraphone, marimba, and xylophone. He soloed with the Young Artists Music Festival in 1973 and with the Utah Valley Symphony. He attended the University of Utah where he received the Comstock Clayton Music Award and the Hubbel Foundation Award from the music department.

Don served a 2 ½ year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Southern Far East Mission from 1967-69. He was first assigned to Hong Kong, but after riots occurred there, he was transferred to Japan, thus having the opportunity to learn two languages (!) Along with his other missionary responsibilities, Don wrote the history of the Japanese mission, "The Light of the Sun," and toured and sang with "The Mormon Four". He enjoyed serving in the Dai Ichi Branch after he returned home.

Besides his percussionist accomplishments, Don completed song texts for "An Evening With David Kennedy," at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square and has accompanied and had his lyrics performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Five of his works premiered on Temple Square. Don wrote the words to over fifty Easter and Christmas carols with the music written by Bob Bowden, Jay E. Welch, and Don's brother, Mearle C. Marsh.

Don was an avid lifelong learner, studying anything and everything and making copious notes on it all. He was a student of the scriptures. He wrote poetry. He enjoyed family history.

Don passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 7th, 2022 in Taylorsville, Utah.

Don is survived by five siblings, Scott C. Marsh (Mary), Lyman A. Marsh, Patra A. Hepworth (Don), Mearle C. Marsh (Holly), and Melodie V. Webb (David). Don's parents preceded him in death as well as two brothers, Thayne L. Marsh (Deaun) and Robert M. Marsh (Terri).

Funeral services will be held Saturday November, 12, 2022 at Larkin Mortuary, 3688 West 12600 South, Riverton, Utah, where friends may call at 1:30-2:30 p.m. for the viewing and 3:00 p.m. for the funeral.

Interment in the Salt Lake City Cemetery will take place at a later date.