Joseph Lank Marshall's Obituary
Joseph Lank Marshall of Lewes, Delaware passed away Sunday, May 23, 2010 at the age of 86, at Cadbury at Lewes, surrounded by his loving wife and children.
Joe was born January 7, 1924 on his parents, Fred Conwell Marshall and Sarah Lank Marshall’s, farm on Red Mill Pond. He was the youngest of three children. His sisters, Katherine Lank Marshall McCarty of Modesto, California and Frances Carter Marshall Adams of Jacksonville, Florida, both predeceased him. Virginia Deputy of Milford, Delaware and Joe were married July 24, 1943 and remained happily married for more than 66 years at the time of his death.
Joe was a graduate of Lewes High School and was a decorated veteran of World War II. He served as a Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner on B-17’s, flying missions over southern France, Germany, Austria and Romania with the U. S. Army Air Corp, 15th Air Force, 97th Heavy Bomber Group, stationed at Foggia, Italy. He flew 16 missions, was shot down twice and was wounded by shrapnel each time. On his 14th mission their airplane was shot down and his pilot and the entire crew were picked up by air sea rescue after ditching in the Adriatic Sea. On his 16th mission, on June 11, 1944, their plane was shot down over Bucharest, Romania and he was captured and held as a prisoner of war until the liberation of Romania, near the end of the war. On this occasion the flight photographer was killed and his pilot and best friend, 2nd Lt. James Callaway of Harrington, Delaware lost his life after recovering control of the severely damaged plane long enough to allow his surviving crew members to bail out. Joe received two Purple Hearts and the Air Medal for distinguished service in flight during combat.
Upon his return to Lewes, after the war, he worked for the Lewes Post Office as a rural mail carrier until 1968 when he was appointed Postmaster. After retiring from the Postal Service in 1981 Joe worked as a real estate agent for Jack Lingo Realtor in the Lewes office.
He was a member and past President of the Lewes Lion Club and served on the Vestry at St. Peters Episcopal Church in Lewes. Joe was an active member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and a generous contributor to veterans’ causes.
Joe was an avid quail hunter and skeet shooter, winning many competitions with his great shooting ability. He also excelled in baseball, softball and tennis, playing tennis into his early 80’s.
Joe is survived by his wife, Virginia and his three children and their spouses, Ronald Joseph Marshall and wife Dolores Lopatka Marshall, of Lewes; Douglas Deputy Marshall, Esquire and wife Deborah Patterson Marshall, of Lewes and Cameron Marshall Sabold and husband W. Carl Sabold, of Annapolis, Maryland. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, their spouses and 6 great grandchildren: Joseph John Marshall, his wife Leigh and their daughter Sierra, of Scottsdale, Arizona; Christopher James Marshall, his wife Kerry and their children Jack, Anna and Henry, of Rumson, New Jersey; Benjamin Lank Marshall, his wife Meredith and their children Joseph Lank, II and Mackenzie, of Vienna, Virginia; Sarah Lank Marshall Wilson and husband Kevin, of Neptune Beach, Florida; Fred Conwell Marshall, II and wife Hope, of Manhattan, New York; Matthew Gibbon Morris and wife McNevin, of Washington, DC; and Sarah Cameron Morris and fiancé Matthew Hummer, of Washington, DC.
Joe’s life will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Second Street in Lewes, Delaware beginning at 1:00 PM. Interment will immediately follow in the churchyard cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes, DE.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Joe's name to the Military Order of the Purple Heart , 28365 Clark Avenue, Millsboro, Delaware 19966.
Sign online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com
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