Raymond E. Marshall

Raymond E. MARSHALLOctober 27, 1928 – July 8, 2017PHENIX CITY, AL – Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Raymond “Ray” E. Marshall, died on July 8th, 2017 at 11:30 pm.

Ray Marshall was born on October 27th, 1928 to the late Raymond and Susan Warfield Marshall in Philadelphia, PA.   The Marshalls moved to Reading, PA in 1931, where Ray hunted, fished, played football, boxed and attained the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 12.   Entering the Navy immediately after graduating from Reading High School in 1946, he completed two enlistments and served on four submarines.  Ray then attended the University of Idaho and spent his summers working as a Smokejumper for the U.S. Forest Service.   He graduated from the University of Idaho with a BS degree and as a Distinguished Military Graduate, receiving a Regular Army Commission.   LTC Marshall was qualified as a Ranger, Special Forces Officer, Master Parachutist, and Combat Infantryman.   He served multiple tours in Vietnam, graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and retired from the Army in 1975.  Ray then farmed in Talbot County, Georgia and moved to Alabama upon completely retiring in 1996.Ray had a lifelong love of the outdoors and enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and canoeing.  He canoed many of the streams in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, as well as Minnesota, Idaho and Montana.   Ray canoed the Suwannee River from the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico, a total of 233 miles, when he was in his seventies.He was a life member of the US Submarine Veterans, VFW Post 665, 173rd Airborne Brigade Association, Disabled American Veterans and National Rifle Association (NRA).Ray was baptized in the Baptist Church.   At the age of 14, he became a “born again” Atheist, and remained so until his death.   There will be no funeral service.   Ray will be cremated – one half of his ashes will be broadcast at sea, and the remainder scattered over a drop zone. Survivors include his wife Catherine of Phenix City, a son Randy Marshall of Columbus, Ga., a daughter Sherry Sheffield of Decatur, Ga. And a granddaughter Kelley Sheffield of Atlanta, Ga. 

 He often said, “If I die today, I’ve had a hell of a ride”.   And so he did!