Paul G. Marsh

PAUL MARSH OBITUARY

June 16, 1931 - August 16, 2024

Paul Gilbert Marsh was born June 16, 1931 in New Britain, Connecticut to Gilbert and Gretchen Marsh.  Paul had one younger brother, Dick.  Paul’s family spent many summers at their cabin at Lake Pocotopaug in East Hampton, Connecticut, which he and his brother and dad built.  As a young man, Paul worked many kinds of jobs, including painting homes, installing garage doors, driving a laundry truck, working in asparagus fields, and helping run a family-owned moving company.  At age 15, Paul became an Eagle Scout. 

In 1952, Paul joined the Army.  He did his basic training at Camp Pickett, Virginia, which was the primary training center for the Army medical specialties. Paul was the leading marksman in his battalion of 500 men.  Over the next two years, he served in the Medical Corps Dental Division at Brooks Army Hospital at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.  He was a dental assistant and developed the curriculum for training other soldiers who became dental assistants as well.  For his honorable service, Corporal Marsh was awarded the National Defense Service medal.  

After active duty, Paul continued his education in dental school in San Antonio and at Tufts University in Boston.  Eventually, though, he decided not to pursue a career in dentistry, stating he’d rather work “with people” than “on people”.  

Paul and Barbara (Smith) were married on August 25, 1956 in Avon, Connecticut.  In 1957, Paul left Boston to attend college at ASU (then Arizona State College).  In 1959, Paul graduated from ASU with a BS degree in Business Marketing and Salesmanship, receiving the Outstanding Marketing Graduate award.   Paul then went to work for JC Penney, which led to a 27-year career in the retail field. During that time, he also worked for Montgomery Ward, and he and Barbara owned their own ladies’ clothing store in Park Mall here in Tucson for almost 12 years.  

In 1992, Paul ran for public office and was elected to the Pima County Board of Supervisors.   He served a 4-year term and was the board chairman for 28 months.  During his tenure, he was involved in the commissioning of the USS Tucson submarine, first in Norfolk, Virginia and then in its dedication in San Diego.  

Over the years, Paul participated in Toastmasters International, an organization dedicated to helping its members develop public speaking skills.  He also taught business courses at Pima Community College for 10 years, and served on the Greater Tucson Economic Council, the Transportation Planning Board and as chairman of the Housing Advisory and Appeals Board, which assisted veterans in obtaining housing.  He did other volunteer work with students in the Tucson Unified School District, Acosta Job Corps Center and Junior Achievement.  Paul also volunteered with other church members from Christ Community Church, Pantano Christian Church and Saguaro Canyon Church, mostly on building projects on the church campuses, as well as helping older church members with home improvement projects.

In 1997, Paul worked with the Tucson Organizing Committee to bring the National Senior Olympics to Tucson.   

Paul always had great respect and love for veterans.  He was a member of the City of Tucson Veterans Affairs Committee and held the position of treasurer and was a founding member for the local chapter of the Arizona Korean War Veterans Association, Pima Chapter.  On October 23, 2015, Paul was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame.

In 2007, Paul began working on the establishment of a veterans cemetery to serve veterans and their families in the Tucson area.  In spite of many challenges and red tape, he, along with Norm Ross and Wendell Hague and many other dedicated people, worked tirelessly to see the cemetery become a reality.  Thanks to the very generous donation of 42 acres of land from the Kai Family Foundation in Marana and a government grant, the cemetery groundbreaking took place in November of 2014 and the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery was dedicated on March 26, 2016, with 800 people in attendance.  Paul once said that his death would be the only thing that would stop him from the completion of a proper resting place for his fellow veterans.  

Paul’s life was dedicated to serving and loving God, his family and his country.  He is survived by his two daughters - Cherrie (Dennis) O’Neill, Beth (Steve) Gilmore, grandchildren, Amy (Ray) Phillips, Chris O’Neill, Daniel Gilmore and Sarah (Jordan) Glenn, and two great grandchildren, Abby and Matthew Phillips.