Claude Ernest Marsh Jr.
December 11, 1926 ~ May 19, 2020
Claude E Marsh, Jr of Vass, North Carolina was reunited with his beloved wife, Sibyl on Tuesday morning, May 19, 2020.
His body will lie in state at Fry and Prickett Funeral Home on Friday May 22, 2020 from 9:00 am – 5:00pm. A graveside service will be held at Cameron Community Cemetery on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 4:00 pm with Pastor Van Stanley officiating.
A Moore County native, Claude enlisted in the Navy prior to obtaining his high school diploma. In his 80’s, he decided it was time to complete his high school education and successfully completed the GED program through Sandhills Community College. He and Sibyl Cooper married on September 6, 1945 and later welcomed two sons, Bernard and Rex.
Claude built his career in textiles and could tell you anything you could ever want to know about how a sewing machine worked and what a quality fabric is and what “ain’t worth a doodle!” Claude and Sibyl loved to travel the United States together; they would load their truck and pickup camper up and just drive, viewing the countryside until they found a suitable place to spend the night.
You could always find Claude wherever the people were. Over the last 22 years, it was not uncommon to find him keeping a chair warm at Ed’s Guns Shop in Vass, or at G&F Pawn Shop in Carthage after having enjoyed a hamburger and coffee at Miller’s Family Restaurant in Vass, or a vegetable plate at Pete’s Family Restaurant in Carthage. In addition to his favorite haunts around Moore County, Claude loved spending time in the mountains of Allegheny County, NC where he basked in the company of more treasured friends.
In April 2011, Claude flew from Raleigh, NC to Washington, DC on a Flight of Honor with other World War II era veterans to tour the Word War II Memorial returning home that evening to great fanfare.
As Claude’s ability to complete some everyday tasks dwindled, an amazing gentleman, Geoff Chilcott of Carthage, NC, entered his world and restored a priceless quality of life that had been slowly slipping away.
Claude was the eldest son of Claude E. Marsh Sr. and Lola V. Marsh. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Sibyl, brother Felton Marsh and great grandson, Coy Watkins.
Left to cherish Claude’s memory are aunt, Mabel Somers of Sanford, NC, two sons, Bernard E. Marsh and wife Harriet of Carthage, NC, Rex G. Marsh and wife Sandra of McLeansville, NC, three grandchildren, Mollie M. Watkins of Stokesdale, NC, Lola M. Black and husband Derek of Carthage, NC and Tyrus J. Marsh of Burlington, NC, two great-grandsons, William Watkins and Luke Watkins of Stokesdale, NC, numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces as well as one devoted and heartbroken little mutt named Frasier of Carthage, NC.
Services are entrusted to Fry & Prickett Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be shared at Pinesfunerals.com.
Sincere sympathy to all of Claude’s family. He and Sybil meant a lot to Eddie and me. We enjoyed visiting and talking to them, hearing all their adventures. He will be missed, but now at peace with his dear Sybil. Prayers for the family. Eddie and Vetres Livengood
Praying for Claude’s family during his passing. May God give you comfort and peace.
Thinking of you all at this time. Prayers for comfort and blessings of many fond memories.
Lola,
You and your family are in my heart and prayers. I will surely miss reading about your conversations and adventures . He brought joy to me through you and I can only imagine how wonderful of a person he truly was in the “real world”.
Sending prayers of comfort , hold tight to those special memories.
Sorry for your loss. Cherish your memories.
Claude entered into my life like all of God gifts do, right when i needed him. He would always tell me that he needs me and that he appreciates me. I’m sure neither of us fully understood how much we needed each other, but like best friends do, we tried.
Words cannot express my gratitude for having Claude Marsh in my life, Relationships and Spirits go on, our vessels are not meant to be permanent.
They are going to have to chain him to a tree if they expect him to stay in one place up there lol. He and his wife are out cruising around some place beyond the stars. I only hope when its my turn to leave this vessel that i can join them for a little while. Being side by side with those we love is what makes life so great, sharing and interacting with Gods creation. Until we are called home. I love this man and i know he loves me. Doesn’t get much better than that. Thank you my friend for being yourself and for allowing me to be me. Much love and Blessings and Gratitude to Claude Marsh and his family and all the people he touched along the way. I only hope I can reach half as many as he has.
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for the family.
Words may not suffice to express the heartfelt sorrow that I feel for the passing of Claude. Please accept our condolences. We will never forget his kindness. May God give him eternal rest and the family the strength to bear the great pain.
He was such a sweet man and I enjoyed talking to him whenever I was invited over to Bernard and Harriet’s house! He will be missed, but now he is free and no longer suffering. Love and sympathy to the family. <3
It was my honor to be Claude’s guardian on the 2011 Triangle Flight of Honor to the WWII Memorial in Washington DC. He was a great, humble man and I am so blessed he became a part of my life. I will miss him until we meet again one wonderful day.
Am so sorry for y’all loss. I’ve only had a few conversations with Claude, there was some wisdom and humor in them. Am proud to say heaven is going to a good man. And he is going to be with his beloved wife. 👍🏽
Bernard, so sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
A very interesting man, he stopped by to visit Neil a few times. He talked about his work and their travels. Bernard, I did not realize he was your Dad, I thought he was an uncle. My thoughts and Prayers to you and your family.
So sorry for your loss. Mr Marsh was a smart & kind man and always a gentleman. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. He will be greatly missed. Hold on to the memories.
I am so sorry for your loss, I am praying for you and your family
When I first met Claude through my work at the bank, he was a cheerful customer. Actually I had met someone who instantly became a friend. I always enjoyed his visits and the conversations we had. I am glad that I was able to help him from time to time; he was so appreciative and he always shared some great memories or stories from his past. He had a unique perspective on many topics and always asked me about my family. He loved to talk about his family, especially Lola.
Deepest sympathy to all of his family.
Pam Wase