Clifton Thomas Marr

Clifton Thomas Marr Sr passed away on December 4, 2025, at the age of 99 while residing at Wesley Ridge Barnes Center in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

He was born Easter Sunday, April 4,1926 in Montpelier Vermont to Irene and William Marr. William died when Cliff was 5 and Irene married Harold Hewitt who became a beloved Dad to Cliff and his brother, Billy. Cliff grew up spending carefree summers at his family's "camp on the pond" on Lake Groton in Groton, Vermont and winters skiing Mt. Mansfield. After graduating from Montpelier High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Later he graduated from Parks College of Aeronautical Technology in St. Louis with an engineering degree and his coveted pilot's license.

He married Marcella Bosworth, the love of his life, in June of 1951. They moved to the Midwest and started a family. Cliff's early career in the aerospace industry included work on the program that launched America's first astronaut, Alan Shepard, into space. After settling his family in Bexley, Ohio, he joined Battelle Memorial Institute where he contributed to the development of deep-sea diving equipment. In typical Cliff fashion, he quipped that not many got the opportunity to work on projects above the earth as well as below! In his later years he obtained his Master's in Education from Ohio University. His career continued in the aviation department of Columbus State, where he taught aeronautical engineering, ultimately retiring as Chair of the Aviation Department.

A gifted craftsman and aviator, Cliff rebuilt several airplanes which he successfully flew, but his Cessna Cardinal RG was his favorite. He piloted it for 25 years, flying Marcella and their family to visit grandparents and relatives around the US and later to visit adult children and grandchildren.

He was a 50-year member of the former Brookwood Presbyterian Church where he served as Elder, Chair of numerous Ministry Units, and worked with the youth. He was a 75-year Mason and a Boy Scout leader. In 2006, he was awarded the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award by the FAA for his 50+ years of expertise, skill, and professionalism in the aviation maintenance field. He loved life, his family and friends, enjoyed world travel and photography, and was a talented gourmet cook.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Marcella (nee Bosworth), and is survived by son C. Thomas Marr Jr (Roberta) of Portimão, Portugal, daughter Linda Marr Puvogel (Timothy) of Virginia Beach, VA, son Stephen Harold Marr (Susan) of Basking Ridge, NJ in addition to 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Clifton Thomas Marr, please click here to visit our sympathy store.