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While vocational agriculture teacher in Eddy, Falls County, Texas, he met and wed the love of his life, Geneva Stone. He always said that as soon as he met Geneva, he knew he wanted to marry her. They drove a Model A to Yellowstone Park for their honeymoon in 1934. They had moves to Seguin, Huntsville and Corsicana, Texas. While in Huntsville, Texas, their two sons, Robert and Charles, were born. Early in World War II, R.P., with the reserve officer commission he had received at Texas A & M, was called to active duty as camp adjutant of Camp Maxey, a new US Army infantry training camp located near Paris, Texas. R.P. always said his job was to get the young men as prepared as he could, and he took great pride in that service. He honored and respected the many who sacrificed so much “so that the rest of us could so enjoy the past 60 years.” He remained in the Army reserves after the war, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.
After the war, R.P. was employed in several agriculture related positions, all the while enhancing his industry wide reputation as a preeminent cattle judge. In 1953, R.P.’s reputation as a manager and judge of cattle led to his being hired as the first executive secretary of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International Cattle Association, in Kingsville, Texas, and he served in that capacity for 18 years. R.P. and Geneva, traveled extensively throughout the United States and many foreign countries promoting Santa Gertrudis cattle. He continued to be a cattle judge at livestock shows in the U.S. and abroad. R.P. and Geneva were always grateful for the opportunity to meet and make lifelong friends of so many wonderful people associated with the breed. In 1971, R.P. retired from S.G.B.I.. For the next 16 years he was associated with the King Ranch, as manager of the A Herd and director of marketing, finally retiring in 1987 at 75 years of age.
After his professional retirement, R.P. and Geneva hosted or attended and much enjoyed annual family reunions and continued to enjoy traveling together throughout many of the states, including Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and even enjoyed a trip to China and Hong Kong along with a 747 planeload of “Texas cattle people.”
R.P. treasured his personal and professional friendships. The family celebrates the fact that he lived his life with unquestioned integrity, and that his judgment and opinion were valued by many. His word was truly his bond, and he set an example for living one’s life with purpose, integrity, and determination. R.P. was most unselfish, loving and devoted. He was proud of his seven brothers and extended Marshall and Hickerson families. R.P. was a loving and devoted partner and companion to his beloved Geneva throughout their almost 67 years of marriage, and he was, for several years, her tireless and almost sole caregiver, until parted by her death in June 2001.
R.P. Marshall was also preceded in death by his parents, Mary Hickerson Marshall and Vernie C. Marshall, and his brothers, James Marshall, Brooks Marshall, and Tom Lee Marshall, and his beloved father and mother-in-law, Charlie and Lela Stone. Survivors include two sons, Robert Marshall and his wife, Julie, of San Antonio, Texas and Charles Marshall and his wife, Betty, of Webster, Texas; his four brothers, Alton Marshall of Austin, Texas; Lewis Marshall of Ft. Worth, Texas, Chester Marshall of Bartlett, Texas, Ellis Marshall and his wife, Jean of Temple, Texas, and his sister-in-law Marjorie Marshall of Santee, South Carolina; three beloved grandchildren, Wade Marshall and his wife, Laura, of San Antonio, Chuck Marshall and his wife, Deedee, of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, and Melanie Marshall of Hot Springs, Arkansas; four beloved great grandchildren, Erin and Kelly Marshall, of San Antonio, Texas, and Aril and Alex Marshall, of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; his in-laws, Edith Stone, Virginia Stone, Edna Stone Hayman, Lena Stone Criswell and her husband, Glenn; many other loved ones of his extended family, and many dear friends.
SERVICES
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 29, 2007 at Turcotte – Piper Mortuary,
205 E. General Cavazos Blvd in Kingsville, Texas. Funeral service will be at the First United Methodist Church in Kingsville, Texas, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2007. Burial will follow at Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville, Texas. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the building fund of the First United Methodist Church, 120 N. 4th St., Kingsville, Texas 78363, or to a charity of one’s choice.
Services are entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd., Kingsville, Texas.