Donald James Marnon

Donald James Marnon

DOTHAN - Donald James Marnon, Colonel (U.S. Army, Retired), a resident of Dothan, died Tuesday afternoon, December 27, 2022, in Southeast Health. He was 85.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, January 7, 2023, in the St. Columba Catholic Church, Dothan, with Father James E. Dane officiating. Graveside services, with full military honors, will follow at the Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery, near Texasville. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 4:30 until 7:00 P.M. Friday at the mortuary in Headland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Columba Catholic Church, 2700 West Main Street, Dothan, AL 36301.

Colonel Marnon was born in Buffalo, NY, and was reared in Melrose, Massachusetts, son of the late Victor Joseph Marnon and Madeline Behen Marnon. He was a 1955 graduate of Melrose High School in Melrose. At the age of 17, while a junior in high school, Colonel Marnon enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 1958 he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he attended Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry Branch. Colonel Marnon served two tours in Vietnam, initially assigned to the U.S. Special Forces and later as a District Senior Advisor to the South Vietnamese Airborne, Team 162 (Red Hats), Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MAC-V). While in combat, he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry and the Bronze Star with Valor, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Following the Vietnam War, Colonel Marnon continued a lengthy military career highlighted by assignments with the 2nd Infantry Division, 7th and 8th Special Forces Groups, the Infantry Test Board, and the U.S. Army Ranger School. His military service culminated as the Garrison Commander at Ft. Rucker.

Following his retirement from the military in 1987, he accepted a position with the City of Dothan as City Manager. He also served as Chairman of the Board for the Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union. Colonel Marnon was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church.

Colonel Marnon was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Rae Helms Marnon, two sisters, Ann Scheele and Mary Jane Neville Gray, and a brother, John Marnon.

Surviving relatives include a daughter, Donna Rae Christiansen (Clay), Atlanta; a son, Colonel (U.S. Army, Retired), Paul Victor Marnon (Bettyna), Henderson, Nevada; three brothers, Greg Marnon (Margie), Tom Marnon, and Gerald Marnon; four grandchildren, Sean Christiansen, Mark Christiansen, Jacob Marnon and Grace Marnon; numerous nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all those who have known and loved him.

HOLMAN-HEADLAND MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-693-3371. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This establishment does not own a crematory.