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Published in Evening Sun on Apr. 5, 2015.
Joseph R. Marsden Sr.
HANOVER Joseph Richard "Dick" Marsden, Sr., 86,
formerly of Emmitsburg, Md., died Friday, April 3, 2015,
at Homewood at Plum Creek in Hanover, where he had
resided for several years.
He was the husband of Catherine Ann (Conlon) Marsden,
his wife of 54 years, who died August 2, 2004.
Born August 4, 1928, in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Joseph Francis and
Laura Ann (Wills) Marsden. Dick was a graduate of St. John's College Military School
(1947) and Columbia Technical Institute, both in Washington, D.C.
He was employed with the Washington Gas Light Company for 35 years, retiring in 1983 as
Assistant Chief of Drafting and Design in the Engineering Department.
He was a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church congregations in both Hanover
and Emmitsburg, Md. He was a veteran of the United States Army National Guard, serving in
the 300th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion during the Korean War and earning the rank of Sgt. 1st
Class. He was a member of the American Legion Posts in Hanover and in Emmitsburg, Md.
He had a life-long interest in American military history, and was a "Fellow" of the Company
of Military Historians. He was a member of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors, and
served as the organization's first president. He was a charter member of the Potomac Arms
Collectors' Association, and belonged to the Forks of the Delaware Historical Arms Society,
Inc., the North-South Skirmish Association, the Sons of Union Veterans, the Sons of
Confederate Veterans, the National Rifle Association, and the Hanover Historical Society.
Dick and his wife Catherine participated in the ceremonies of the Civil War Centennial
(1961-1965) and the Nation's Bicentennial (1976-1981.) He served as president of the
Emmitsburg Historical Society for 10 years.
He and his wife also restored two historical homes in Emmitsburg, the Vincent Sebold
House at 137 South Seton Ave., and the Hubert Joy House at 203 South Seton Ave. He also
worked on the committee to have Emmitsburg placed on the National Register of Historic
Places.
Surviving are son, Joseph "Rick" Marsden, Jr. and wife, Marsha of Placitas, N.M.;
daughters, Ann Marsden of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Mary Black of York; sister, Harriet
Williams and husband, Leonard of Englewood, Colo.; grandchildren, Katy Drale and fiance,
Derek Ecker of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Joseph J. Marsden, Michael Salters and wife,
Dana, and William Salters, all of York; five great-grandchildren; two nieces; and two
nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2015, at St. Joseph
Catholic Church, 47 DePaul St., Emmitsburg, Md., with the Rev. Charles F. Krieg, C.M. as
celebrant.
Interment will follow at New St. Joseph Cemetery.
The family will receive friends 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home,
210 W. Main St., Emmitsburg, Md.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Homewood at Plum Creek
Building Fund, 45 Westminster Ave., Hanover, PA, 17331.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.myersdurborawfh.com
.
Joseph R. Marsden Sr.
HANOVER Joseph Richard "Dick" Marsden, Sr., 86,
formerly of Emmitsburg, Md., died Friday, April 3, 2015,
at Homewood at Plum Creek in Hanover, where he had
resided for several years.
He was the husband of Catherine Ann (Conlon) Marsden,
his wife of 54 years, who died August 2, 2004.
Born August 4, 1928, in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Joseph Francis and
Laura Ann (Wills) Marsden. Dick was a graduate of St. John's College Military School
(1947) and Columbia Technical Institute, both in Washington, D.C.
He was employed with the Washington Gas Light Company for 35 years, retiring in 1983 as
Assistant Chief of Drafting and Design in the Engineering Department.
He was a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church congregations in both Hanover
and Emmitsburg, Md. He was a veteran of the United States Army National Guard, serving in
the 300th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion during the Korean War and earning the rank of Sgt. 1st
Class. He was a member of the American Legion Posts in Hanover and in Emmitsburg, Md.
He had a life-long interest in American military history, and was a "Fellow" of the Company
of Military Historians. He was a member of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors, and
served as the organization's first president. He was a charter member of the Potomac Arms
Collectors' Association, and belonged to the Forks of the Delaware Historical Arms Society,
Inc., the North-South Skirmish Association, the Sons of Union Veterans, the Sons of
Confederate Veterans, the National Rifle Association, and the Hanover Historical Society.
Dick and his wife Catherine participated in the ceremonies of the Civil War Centennial
(1961-1965) and the Nation's Bicentennial (1976-1981.) He served as president of the
Emmitsburg Historical Society for 10 years.
He and his wife also restored two historical homes in Emmitsburg, the Vincent Sebold
House at 137 South Seton Ave., and the Hubert Joy House at 203 South Seton Ave. He also
worked on the committee to have Emmitsburg placed on the National Register of Historic
Places.
Surviving are son, Joseph "Rick" Marsden, Jr. and wife, Marsha of Placitas, N.M.;
daughters, Ann Marsden of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Mary Black of York; sister, Harriet
Williams and husband, Leonard of Englewood, Colo.; grandchildren, Katy Drale and fiance,
Derek Ecker of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Joseph J. Marsden, Michael Salters and wife,
Dana, and William Salters, all of York; five great-grandchildren; two nieces; and two
nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2015, at St. Joseph
Catholic Church, 47 DePaul St., Emmitsburg, Md., with the Rev. Charles F. Krieg, C.M. as
celebrant.
Interment will follow at New St. Joseph Cemetery.
The family will receive friends 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home,
210 W. Main St., Emmitsburg, Md.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Homewood at Plum Creek
Building Fund, 45 Westminster Ave., Hanover, PA, 17331.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.myersdurborawfh.com
.
