Marvin passed away March 15, 2019 at the age of 95. He was born in Fresno on October 3, 1923 to Myrl and Jennie Stollar, joining his sister Dorothy. He attended University and Manning Elementary schools before Washington Union High School. He graduated from high school in 1941. After attending Central California Commercial College, and doing construction work in Nevada, he joined the Navy with his best friend John Pisor in1942. In the Navy he was stationed for basic training in Farragut, Idaho, Machinist School in Norman, Oklahoma, and active duty as a mechanic at Barin Field, Pensacola, Florida, before joining as a flight crew member on PBM-3 flying boat patrols. As a flight crew member he was stationed in Banana River, Florida, Norfolk, Virginia, Bermuda, and Corpus Christi, Texas.
In the fall of 1944, while at home on leave, he met Patricia Miller through his sister, Dorothy. They corresponded and dated when he was home on leave. They married on December 29, 1945 and moved to San Francisco while waiting for separation from the Navy in March of 1946. After a few short-term jobs, he joined PG&E as a truck driver in 1949. He left PG&E a few years later and joined the City of Fresno.
While working at the various jobs, he was also working with his father on his grape vineyards. He left City of Fresno and took over the vineyards in the mid-1950s. Soon another parcel was added, followed by another, and another. He retired from active farming at seventy and leased the vineyards. At eighty years old he returned to farming for two years due to a slump in the raisin business. He was a lifelong Sun-Maid grower, as was his father, on family property dating back to 1917.
In the mid-1980s he renewed his Christian faith due in part to a “Basic Beliefs” class hosted by Millie Alexander. He was a member of the Easton Presbyterian Church, and later the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Easton. He regularly attended the Thursday morning men's bible study group until moving, in December 2016, to San Joaquin Gardens Retirement Community in Fresno. His faith endured until his death.
Through his life he enjoyed grafting grapevines and trees, building farm equipment, amateur radio as N6JAE, fishing, bowling, and visiting with his friends. He was the last survivor of the neighborhood farmer and friends group with Jim Sasaki and Gabe Avedisian.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Patricia, and wife Gloria. Marvin's wife Patricia died on November 5, 1983. He married Gloria Thomas in 1984, who died on January 24, 2014.
Marvin is survived by his sister Dorothy Maxwell of Fowler; son Tom (Barbara) of Santa Cruz and daughter Cheryl of Fresno; three granddaughters, Tamara (Lonnie) Glessner of Littleton, CO, Marsha Stollar (Troy Witzel) of Carmichael, CA, and Sara Clark (Lucas) of Santa Cruz; and three great- grandchildren, David and Abby Glessner, and Quinn Clark.
The family would like to thank the staffs at San Joaquin Gardens and Hinds Hospice for their loving care and support.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances be made in Marvin's name to: Hinds Hospice, 2490 W. Shaw Ave, Ste. 101, Fresno, CA 93711, or https://www.hindshospice.org/donate.html.
Graveside Services will be held at Washington Colony Cemetery, 7318 S. Elm, Easton on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 10:00 am.
