Marsha Stettler Humphries

Marsha Stettler Humphries passed away peacefully at home on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026, after an 80-day illness. Born in Fostoria, Ohio on September 24, 1935, her family later moved down to Mission, Texas when she was about 10 years old. After high school, she attended the Texas College of Arts and Industries (later Texas A&M University) and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in just three years. She met her future husband Jim in a Sunday school class in Mission, while he was going through US Air Force pilot training. They were married on August 17, 1957 and she was immediately thrust into the arduous and often lonely role of a military spouse for another 22 years. Her older son Tom arrived on March 5, 1959 and her younger son John arrived 2-1/2 years to the day later on September 5, 1961. Marsha and Jim would go on to live in Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Kansas, Florida (twice), Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, California, Maryland, and Ohio during these years. After Jim retired from the Air Force in 1979, he took a job and they moved to San Antonio, Texas, where they would remain for the next 46 years, until they moved to Elgin, South Carolina in June 2025 to be near family. Along the way, Marsha was an elementary and middle school teacher, a southwestern jewelry store manager, a Blue Bird hospital support volunteer, an international piano competition coordinator, a world traveler, a scuba diver and sunken treasure enthusiast, a fan of Far Side and Calvin & Hobbes cartoons, and a voracious student and teacher of the Bible.

Marsha loved Jesus and walked with Him for nearly 65 years. She was a fierce prayer warrior, continually kneeling in prayer for her husband, sons, family, loved ones, and often complete strangers whom God brought to her attention. She loved digging deeply into the Bible to uncover the truth of God’s Word and had a near-encyclopedic knowledge of many Old Testament books. Even after her vision faded in her final years, she never lost her incredible ability to recall the Scripture that God had so deeply imbedded in her. She loved teaching the Bible to anyone blessed to sit underneath her wise instruction. In particular, she loved teaching Isaiah, Daniel, Romans, and Hebrews, carefully weaving Gospel life application insights into her lessons.

Preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, Marsha is survived by her husband of nearly 69 years, her older sister Nancy Leonard, her sons Tom (Jeanine) and John (Vicki), 9 grandchildren Tim, Jared, Cortni (Michael), Zak (Arieal), Mike (Jessica), Jami (Brett), Dan (Julia), Andy, and Ben. Also surviving are 11 great-grandchildren: Lincoln, Halle, Greyson, Arlo, Eli, Raegan, Liam, Sophie, Charlotte, Levi, and Lucy.

The family is forever grateful to Marsha’s beloved nurses and staff at Prisma Heart Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina for their professional and compassionate care during her long fight. Also, no words can express our profound gratitude for Dr. Reid Tribble, Marsha’s brilliant surgeon and lead doctor, whose strong faith in the Lord inspired uncompromised and bold treatment to give her the very best opportunity to thrive.

The family will have a celebration of life service for Marsha on Friday, May 29, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., at Crossings Community Church, 2831 Clemson Road, Columbia, South Carolina. A fellowship meal for all attendees will follow shortly thereafter, also at the church. Marsha will be laid to rest in Fort Jackson National Cemetery in a private family graveside service.