Samuel Ferguson Marshall Jr.

Samuel Ferguson Marshall, Jr., age 71, passed away on Friday, August 21, 2015 after an amazing life full of varied passions, talents and experiences. Sam was married to Maureen Paley Marshall (Reenie) for almost 43 years. They are the parents of two sons, Chris Marshall (dear friend Catherine Hart Curtis) and Alex Marshall (Magdalena Roman Marshall). Sam’s parents were Dorothy Dean and First Lt. Samuel Ferguson Marshall. His maternal grandparents were Leila Jones and Homer Dean and maternal grandparents Eva Ferguson and Frederick Marshall.

Being an only child, Sam loved his first cousins as siblings. His maternal cousins are John McLendon and Leila McLendon Durcholz (Matt). His paternal cousins are Cindy Janechild (Alan Donaldson), Susan Coville and Sam Coville (deceased).

Sam also loved Reenie’s brothers and sisters-in-love as his own. They are Raymond Paley (Wanda), David Paley (Sheila), John Paley—deceased, and Mark Paley. Sam always had a wonderful relationship with Reenie’s parents, Eileen O’Brien Paley (deceased) and Edmund John Paley. Now 92 years old, Ed Paley always helped Sam with odd jobs, raised a glass and swapped stories with him and loved Sam as a son.

Growing up in Lynchburg, Virginia, Sam graduated from E.C. Glass High School where he was active in sports and played drums in the marching and concert bands. He then attended The University of Virginia where he and roommate Bill Willey began a lifelong friendship. While at UVA, Sam combined academics with gainful employment. He provided companion service to an elderly man who lived alone on a farm, was a night clerk at a motel, and transported a group of men to and from events so they could fully enjoy their trip.

After graduation Sam accepted a position with the Army Air Force Exchange Service, which took him to Hawaii and Vietnam. When he returned to the States he became Manager of the Main PX at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It was there that he met Reenie. They were married within a year and remained near Fort Campbell, in Clarksville, Tennessee, until Reenie completed her education.

They then moved back to Sam’s beloved Virginia where he began his long career in bank marketing. His career continued in the same institution, but due to mergers and acquisitions, the bank’s name changed over the years from Fidelity American to Central Fidelity to Wachovia to Wells Fargo. Sam retired in 1999 and embarked on an entirely new adventure of travel, more time with family and community activities.

From boyhood through the present Sam was engaged in his community. As a youngster he participated in The Order of DeMolay, church, Boy Scouts and sports. His commitment to scouting spanned decades as he served first as Den Leader and Scout Leader for sons Chris and Alex, and then as District Chair and in various Council committee roles for the Robert E. Lee/Heart of Virginia Council BSA. Sam also led a Sea Scout Ship and earned the Wood Badge designation with his Buffalo Patrol.

Sam’s interests were many and varied. In Lynchburg he and Reenie began restoration of a funny old house on Diamond Hill. As part of the Diamond Hill Historical—sometimes referred to as Hysterical—Society Sam helped the area become an historic district listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. Of all the places he lived, Sam loved Diamond Hill a little better than the others. Friendships with fellow pioneers Jane and George Dooley and Julie and Gopher Neighbors and the memories he and Reenie made with them are beyond compare.

Sailing was another of Sam’s loves. He always said that when he raised the sails and turned off the engine he was at peace. In addition to sharing ownership in the boat and embarking on many sailing escapades with partners Jim and Katie Campbell, Sam made sure Chris and Alex learned to sail at the Fishing Bay Yacht Club.

When Sam was a boy, his grandfather Marshall gave him a Sheaffer fountain pen. There began an endless fascination with the engineering and mechanics of those writing instruments along with the excellent writing experience, lovely inks, and interesting accouterments that go along with them. Sam discovered an entire hobby built around the collection, repair, buying and selling of vintage fountain pens! Sam and Reenie joined the Richmond Fountain Pen Club. They began going to pen shows. Sam formed deep and lasting friendships with members of the pen community.

Growing out of his close relationship with a few of the pen guys, Sam became a ROMEO—Retired Old Men Eating Out. Carl Daniel, Martin Ferguson, Harry Blake and Sam went out to lunch every few weeks. New ROMEOs Gerry Berg and Jim Day joined. Their group became an institution, and their significant others joined in activities as well.

When Sam retired from his banking career in 1999 he treated himself to a Z3 M Roadster. He loved driving it around town, taking it down to the boat and even driving it on long trips. Several years ago Sam met Steve Kline whose sweet little Z3 M Roadster was parked next to Sam’s in the Kroger parking lot. Steve told Sam about the Z Series Car Club of America and about Zee Central Virginia Roadsters and Coupes. A whole new world opened to Sam and his roadster—zipping along in a caravan of cars, going on rides to museums and parks and restaurants and drive-in movies. Having been introduced to the fun of national festivals and showing off at car shows, Sam became the Area Representative for the central Virginia group of ZSCCA. The cars are fantastic, but ask their drivers why they hang out with other Z enthusiasts, and they’ll say, “it’s the people.”

Sam’s life will be celebrated at a wake from 6-8 pm on Friday, August 28th at 2750 S Netherfield Drive, Midlothian. A memorial service is planned for 2 pm on Saturday, August 29 at the Huguenot Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Road in Richmond. Friends are invited to arrive early on Saturday to visit with the family. On both occasions, Sam’s family asks you to please wear whatever is comfortable for you—from suits to shorts.

In lieu of flowers, Sam would have wanted friends to donate to the charities dear to them.