Marion A. Steele

Marion A. Steele of Chester died February 24, 2005. He was 66 years old. Marion Archibald Steele was born in Nashville, Tennessee, September 9, 1938. He was the son of Mary Daniel Foulkes and the late Marion Archibald Steele. He was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute Class of 1960, earning a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and a commission as 2nd lieutenant of Field Artillery in the Army of the United States. Following graduation, Marion worked with the Ingersoll-Rand Corporation for a year as an inside sales representative. In the spring of 1962, Marion began active duty service with the United States Army 2nd Gun Battalion, 238th Field Artillery, V Corps Artillery, in Germany. His Army service continued for nearly three years and in 1965, he entered West Virginia University, working towards a masters degree in sanitary engineering. In 1966, he completed the requirements for registration as a Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In late 1966, Marion joined Wiley & Wilson Consulting Engineers in Lynchburg, Virginia, and in 1967 moved to Manassas, Virginia to manage the Wiley & Wilson office there. In 1969, Marion returned to the Lynchburg Office as head of the Civil Engineering Department. In 1971, Marion joined the Taulman Company in the Charlotte Office and later moved to their home office in Atlanta, Georgia. On January 1, 1980, Marion formed Steele-Nickles and Associates in Marietta, Georgia, and was the president until his retirement, January 1, 2001. During his years in Georgia, Marion was an active member of the congregation of Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Marietta, and was ordained as elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). His work as an elder included that of chairman of the Church Extension Committee of the Cherokee Presbytery and in the summer of 1984, he served as moderator for the Stated Summer Meeting of Cherokee Presbytery held at the Summerville Presbyterian Church in Summerville, Georgia. Marion was preceded in death by his son, Marion Archibald Jackson Steele; his sister, Fraser Steele Waters; his stepbrother, John Mervill Booton; and three stepfathers, John Roller Booton, VMI '30, Colonel Frank Maxwell Williams, VMI '30, and William W. Foulkes, VPI '31. He is survived by his wife, Maureen Hart Ripley Steele. He is also survived by two daughters, Mary M. Wannall and husband, Matt, and granddaughters, Hannah and Peyton; Elizabeth S. Koziatek and husband, Dan, and granddaughter, Katie; his mother, Mary Daniel Foulkes; daughter-in-law, Bonnie May Steele; three stepdaughters, Mary Ellen Ripley and her sons, George, Douglas, and Thomas Mauck; Elizabeth R. Owermohle and husband, Kurt, their children, Stephen, Sarah, and Gabrielle; Susan R. Dalton and husband, Michael, and their daughters, Meagan, Elizabeth, and Maureen; brothers, John D. Steele and wife, Lucy, Robert S. Steele II and wife, Terry, R. Daniel Booton and wife, Mary; stepsisters, Emily B. Weitz and husband, Fred, and Ann B. Currie and husband, Tom. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 26, at 4 p.m. at the Chester Presbyterian Church. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 27, at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia. The family will receive visitors from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, February 25, at the Chesterfield Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home, located at 3050 West Hundred Road, Chester, Va. 23831. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chester Presbyterian Church, 3424 West Hundred Road, Chester, Va. 23831. Condolences can be registered at www.jtmorriss.com. Mizpah.