Marshall Marlin Whitesides

Marshall Marlin Whitesides, died on May 26, 2024, at 103, in Houston, Texas, loved by his family and friends. Marshall was born on December 21, 1920, son of Walter Marvin Whitesides and Bessie Mae Hampton Whitesides. Marshall was preceded in death by the love of his life Gloria Whitesides almost two years to the day before his passing. He would sometimes ask about Gloria, who he referred to as “Mother”, and would have to be reminded that she had passed away. He would say, he knew that but that he just refused to accept that reality. Marshall and Gloria were married sixty-five years and are once again reunited.

Marshall was blessed to have five brothers, Washington (Wash), Douglas (Vaughn), Aaron, James and Willie, and two sisters, Mary and Patsy. Patsy Divers is his only surviving sibling. Marshall was born and raised near Troup, Texas, and enjoyed traveling back to Henry’s Chapel for family reunions and recounting stories about growing up on the farm.

A veteran, Marshall served stateside in the Army during World War II. Marshall graduated from the University of Texas and remained a loyal Longhorn his entire life. For years it was an annual event attending the UT/OU football game in Dallas. While he was a faithful Longhorn football fan, his true sports love was professional wrestling. He was a wrestling fan before being a wrestling fan was fashionable, going all the way back to the days of Paul Boesch and Saturday night wrestling.

After he graduated from college, he made his way to Houston where he enjoyed a long and successful career at Houston Lighting & Power Company where he was a commercial power consultant. He retired from HL&P after 45 years of service. In addition to his work at HL&P, Marshall was also a successful real estate investor and home builder. Marshall was a 32nd Degree Freemason and a life member of the Scottish Rite. He and Gloria enjoyed spending time with friends at Arabia Shriners dances. In fact, he is probably already doing his famous “triple charge” dance move in Heaven.

Those that were privileged enough to know Marshall will remember him as a kind and gentle man. A man that almost always had a smile on his face and never had anything negative to say. His philosophy was simple, “I don’t look back, I move forward.” A simple man on the surface, but with a depth of wisdom, spirit and personality that made him a friend to anyone he met. He was a good man, a good husband and a good father and grandfather.

In addition to his sister Patsy, Marshall is survived by his two daughters, Diane Jines (and her husband Mike Jines) and Cindy Miller, both of Houston, four grandchildren, Ashley Jines (and her husband Humberto Izaguirre) and Barrett Jines, Lori Keefe (and her husband David) and Bradley Miller (and his wife Kira), all of Houston, and two great grandchildren, Tydan Bradley Miller and Mallory Paxton Keefe.

Marshall spent the last several years of his life at the Bayou Vista Long Term Care Center at Eagle’s Trace. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, aides and staff there, as well as The Care Team Crossroads hospice team, for their efforts to make Marshall’s twilight years comfortable and meaningful.

A celebration of Marshall’s life will be held at Forest Park Westheimer on Thursday, May 30th, at starting with a visitation at 1:00 PM, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077. A funeral service will follow starting at 2:00 PM.