Clyde Leslie Marshall

Clyde Leslie (Les) Marshall passed away on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at the age of 89. He was born May 25, 1920 in Jasper County, TX. He was the fourth child of Martin Delaney Marshall and Sadie Clyde Graham Marshall of Angelina County. He attended schools in Angelina County and graduated from Zavalla High school in 1938. He worked in various auto machine shops in Beaumont and Corpus Christi until 1942 when he was inducted in the U. S. Army Air corps cadet program to become an aviator. He was a member of the 43E class and graduated as pilot and 2nd Lieutenant in May, 1943 in Eagle Pass, TX. He was retained as an instuctor at Eagle Pass until April 1944 when he was transferred to P-47 training at Ft. Myers, FL. From there he was transferred to England and assigned to the 9th Air Force, 373rd Fighter Bomber Group, 411 th Squadron. After D-Day this group followed Patton across France and on into Belgium and supported the Battle of the Bulge. Les flew 80 missions in the P-47 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 16 clusters and the EAME Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars. He attained the rank of Captain and served as squadron operations officer until his transfer from European operations. After his separation from active duty he served in reserve units for several years. After WWII Les returned to Corpus Christi and kept flying. He had obtained a commercial license with instructor, multi-engine, instrument and sea plane ratings. He also worked as a crop duster pilot. He was employed in 1948 by Pontiac Refining Co. as a pilot of company planes and also assigned to the octane laboratory. He remained at the refinery through many name changes and retired after '35years from Champlin Refining Co. as Supervisor of the octane laboratory. While working for the refinery Les also held a second job as a pipe line patroller for F. C. Barr for 19 years. When he retired he moved to a ranch in Lampasas County where he built his own landing strip and bought a J3 cub which he flew until 1990 when he bought a PA22 (Tri-Pacer). He spent 15 years as a rancher in Lampasas Co. before moving to Cross Country Estates near Georgetown and continued flying off the airstrip there. He was an active pilot until his death. Les was a Life Member of the P47 Pilots Association and of the 43E Association. He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen Assn. He was a Presbyterian and a charter member of Jackson Woods Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi where he served as an Elder and a Trustee. He was also an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Lampasas, TX. On December 31, 1947 He married Virginia Ruth Nose and they lived in Corpus Christi until March, 1984. They have one son, Marcus Delaney (Marc) Marshall who was born in Corpus Christi October 7, 1951. He lives in Austin, TX. He is survived by Virginia, his wife of 61 years, his son Marc and wife Sheri of Austin, granddaughters Jillian of Austin and Sara of Austin. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Elzie Marshall and a sister, Ruby Marshall Butler. He is survived by one sister, Ima Louise Stewart of Corinth, MS <; Graveside services will be held at Concord Community Cemetery near Zavalla, TX in Angelina County on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 2:30 P.M. This is the burial place for three generations of Marshall family ancestors and many other relatives. Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2009 from 4-6 p.m. at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel in Georgetown, TX. No flowers, please.