Marshall

Esther Ann (Wood) Marshall was born to John R. and Ethel L. (Scherich) Wood on March 16, 1937. She passed away in Enid, Okla., on Jan. 21, 2023, following a long battle with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. She was 85.

Esther was born in Claysville, Washington County. She was the youngest daughter of four girls. Her sisters, Jane (Wood) Eckert Richard, Theo (Wood) Zalaznik, and Dory (Wood) Heinlein, all preceded her in death.

She discovered at a young age she had a natural talent for playing the piano and used that talent extensively throughout her life. Upon graduating from Hickory High School in 1955, she began her lifelong love of education at Indiana State Teachers College (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania) in Indiana, Pa. While in college, she met Clark Marshall, also an education major and commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. They were married on May 24, 1958. Soon after graduating from college in May 1959, she boarded a passenger ship to set sail for Germany to join her husband. In those first years overseas, she found a love for traveling and exploring new lands, something that she would pass on to her family. Over the years, she would go on to visit and discover the wonders of nearly 30 countries. Her oldest son, John Clark Marshall, was born in May 1960, while she and Clark were stationed in Germany. In 1962, while stationed in Texas, Esther gave birth to her second son, David Bradley Marshall.

After Clark's separation from the service in 1963, Esther started her 32-year teaching career, beginning in the Mars Area schools. In 1970, Esther and Clark, longing for more adventures, continued their teaching at the military base at SHAPE (near Mons), Belgium. Esther taught every grade from first through fifth during her 27 years teaching at the SHAPE American elementary school. Esther was also deeply involved in the base chapel, where she played organ and piano, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, and at different times was the leader of the chapel's various youth and women's groups. She was a den mother for the Cub Scout pack. She organized trips for classes to go the mountains and to the ocean. For many years, she was the sponsor of the high school cheerleaders. She was extremely hospitable, opening her home to friends and strangers. While in Europe, she honed her tour guide-like skills while planning family camping vacations. She learned how to navigate through Europe on a tight budget.

In 1999, Esther retired from teaching, and moved with Clark back to Cranberry Township in Butler County. There she continued serving in her church. Additionally, she lovingly cared for her 103-year-old mother-in-law, Gertie, until her death. Esther fiercely loved her family, immediate and extended. She loved pre-planned and impromptu family gatherings. She was quick to break out into a song or smile at any time. In 2016, as age began to catch up with them, she and Clark moved to Enid, Okla., to be near family. There she continued living her extraordinary life, as she was able, until her death.

Esther Marshall is survived by her husband, Clark Marshall, her two sons, John (Gracia) Marshall, Dave (Bel) Marshall, six grandchildren, Aubrey Marshall, Kendall Marshall, Josiah (Madeline) Marshall, Geoff (Amy) Ford, Alan (Kaci) Ford, and Nathan Marshall, and is blessed to have seven living great-grandchildren, Jacob, Rylee, Aurora, Jonathan, Dallas, Nora, and Hazel.

Esther was greeted in heaven by her other two great grandchildren, Reese and Heston, who predeceased her.

MARSHALL — A celebration of life service for Esther Marshall, who died January 21, 2023, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Gospel Fellowship Church, 161 McFann Road, Valencia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Gospel Fellowship Church, for the Christian Recreation Program (CRP).

Condolences to the family may be made at ladusauevans.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.