Dr. Robert Thomas Marshall

Bob married his beloved Shirley Joan Graham on February 1, 1953, and together they built a beautiful life centered on faith, family, and service. When they first moved to Columbia to attend the University of Missouri, Bob and Shirley found their church home at Calvary Baptist Church.

Faith was foundational to Bob's life. Raised in New Hope Baptist Church, a small church in rural Southwest Missouri, Bob had deep roots in Christian community—his grandfather had provided all the lumber from the family farm for the building of that church. After Calvary Baptist Church merged with Karis Church, Bob and Shirley found a new church home at Forum Christian Church, which he attended faithfully until illness prohibited his attendance.

Bob dedicated his life to education, faith, and family. He earned his PhD in Dairy Science Microbiology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1960 and joined the Dairy Science faculty in 1960. Bob was instrumental in establishing the Food Science Department at the university and retired in 2000 as Professor Emeritus, holding the distinguished title of Arbuckle Professor. Bob co-authored the highly sought-after textbook "The Science of Providing Milk for Man" with John R. Campbell. He was the Senior Author of the 5th and 6th editions of the book "Ice Cream."

Bob served his country in the Air Force ROTC while in college from 1950-1954. He continued his service in the Air Force until 1957, taking Bob, Shirley, and Scott to England for 1 1/2years. After returning he joined the Air Force Reserves and served through the through the early 1960s. In 1964, Bob and Shirley bought their first home at 810 North Valley View Drive in Columbia, Missouri, a property of well over an acre and a half.

Bob was deeply involved in community service through his Kiwanis Circle K chapter, of which he was proud. He completed many projects for Kiwanis, including work at the food bank, local parks, and schools. He served as President of Golden K for several years. He was also a dedicated member of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA). Every year, the entire Marshall family would travel for two weeks to attend ADSA meetings at various locations across the country.

In 1989, Bob, along with Professor Dean Shelley, opened Buck's Ice Cream Place in Eckles Hall. It has the feel of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and offered a variety of flavors which were created in the adjoining ice cream plant. For the opening, Bob created Tiger Stripe Ice Cream, the University of Missouri's signature ice cream concoction. It had variegated black and gold school colors thus forming the stripe. Bob became known as "Mr. Tiger Stripe," and his creation is often served at university functions. Buck's is still going strong, fulfilling its mission of education, and delighting the taste buds of many Mizzou fans.

Upon Bob's retirement in 2000, friends and colleagues established the Robert T. Marshall Food Science Endowment in his honor. The endowment provides scholarships and graduate assistantships in the Food Science Department, with the hope of one day reaching the level to endow a named chair in Dr. Marshall's honor.

In 2016, Bob and Shirley moved to Lenoir Woods Retirement Center, where Bob enjoyed life with his beloved wife. When Shirley grew ill, Bob was attentive to her every need, loving and caring, doing anything he could to alleviate her suffering. His devotion to Shirley was absolute. To the day of his death, Bob carried her picture in his pants pocket. After her passing on January 26, 2022, he often spoke of how much he missed her.

Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley Joan (Graham) Marshall, in 2022. He was also preceded in death by his brother William Lee Marshall, sister Marlene Irwin Curl, and his parents, Elmer and Zelda Marshall.

He is survived by sister Kathy Brown Layman (born 1940), his four children: Robert Scott Marshall, Becky (Carla)Marshall-Waggett, Kathy (Bill) Marshall Lloyd and Alan (Amy) Lee Marshall. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Kyndal (Aaron) Marshall Riffie (daughter of Alan), Cameron Marshall (son of Alan), Kiley (Nick Vandergriffe) Marshall Vandergriffe (daughter of Alan), Lauren (Allison) Lloyd (daughter of Kathy), and Graham (Melinda) Lloyd (son of Kathy); and several great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W, Columbia, MO 65202. Visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the funeral home until the time of service. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W, Columbia, MO 65202.

Memorials contributions may be made to Robert T. Marshall Food Science Fund mizzou.us/MarshallFoodScienceFund.