Obituary of Leslie Marsh

WILMINGTON 'Leslie Roscoe "Buster" Marsh, 98, died Saturday, February 21, 2009. A celebration of his life will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, February 28, at Mt. Pisgah Methodist Church in Greensboro, N.C., with burial following in Forest Lawn Cemetery. A native of Greensboro, born in 1910, L.R. lived there until age 96 when he moved to Wilmington, N.C., to live with his son, Jerry Marsh, and, finally, at Oakdale Heights Assisted Living Facility. Throughout his time in Wilmington, he enjoyed a rich family life with Jerry and Mary Murrill, their children and grandchildren. Prior to the move, Leslie and Anita took care to assure that his needs were met and his affairs handled. L.R. served in the Navy prior to World War II on the aircraft carrier, USS Saratoga, as an airplane mechanic. He had a lifelong love of aviation and maintained a private pilot's license until age 80. There were many Greensboro buddies who continued to take him flying well into his 90's. After leaving the Navy, L.R. joined the United States Postal System. He retired from the post office in 1968 after 30 years of service as a rural mail carrier in Greensboro. An active member of Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church in Greensboro since 1935, he served faithfully as a member of the Official Board, member of the Board of Trustees, member of the Methodist Men, and he was a Sunday School teacher for over 50 years. Every year, he assisted at the Brunswick stew outdoor cooking pots, the annual fund raiser for the church. Until his death, he continued to tithe annually. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Barker Marsh, who died in 1982. They were both graduates of Greensboro Senior High School (now Grimsley), as were all three of their children. Mary and "Buster" met while working at the Vicks Cough Drop Plant in Greensboro and were married in 1938. He is survived by three children, Leslie H. Marsh and Anita of Riner, Va., Jayne Standley and Fred of Tallahassee, Fla., and Jerry Marsh and Mary Murrill of Wilmington; seven grandchildren, Cary, Lori, Brandy, Laurel, Paul, Melinda, and Brett; 10 great grandchildren; one great, great grandchild; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Before the funeral, a viewing will be held from 1 until 2 p.m. in the church with the family present. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, 2600 Pisgah Church Road, Greensboro, NC, 27455 or to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 2222 S. 17th St., Wilmington, NC, 28401. Lambeth-Troxler Funeral & Cremation Service, 300 W. Wendover Avenue, Greensboro, N.C., is serving the family in Greensboro