Marlon Piper

Marlon Piper, 84, passed from this life into the arms of the Lord. October 17, 2004 at the VA hospital in Phoenix, AZ. Born in Silver Creek, Georgia, on August 13, 1920, married on April 15, 1939. He served his country aboard the USS Fletcher in the South Pacific in World War II. He and his wife, Mildred raised 2 daughters in California where he was the heavy equipment appraiser for Shepherd Machinery. In 1978 he and Mildred moved to a farm in Alabama where he spent his time gardening and working as a freelance Caterpillar buyer for Schwab Sales of Arizona. Six years later they moved to Mesa, Arizona, and he returned to work full time as the appraiser for Schwab Sales. Upon finally retiring in 2002 he and Mildred moved to their daughter and son-in-law ranch outside Snowflake AZ, when he spent his days gardening, woodworking and tinkering. His ability to fix anything with whatever materials were at hand earned him the nickname of 'Rube' (Goldberg). He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mildred, daughter Deborah Slaughter, her husband Levi, granddaughter Elizabeth Wiederhold, her father Lee, a sister Frances, and a brother, Calvin Clifford. He was preceded in death by his daughter Marlyn, and a brother, Edward. A memorial service will be held October 30th at 11:00 am at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, 2035 S. Penrod Lane, Pinetop, AZ. (85935), followed by a luncheon hosted by the Dorcas Society. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the building fund at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church.