He is survived by Joan Marchant, loving and devoted wife of 38 years, son Larry (Heather) Marchant of Glen Allen, Va., and daughter Linda Perry of Del Ray Beach, Fla., who thought the world of their dad, three granddaughters, Maio Baiocco, Limi Bauer and Camia Gavin, six great-grandchildren, nieces Grace Ault and Diane Schorn, nephew Dennis Marchant, and a spunky beagle-terrier Nellie. Mrs. Marchant also extends her thanks to Lelia Poteet of Geriatric Support Services, and Jan Ohrmundt-Demyen for their wonderful support during Joe’s illness. He was predeceased by his sister, Ethyl Schepmoes, brothers, Emerson and Tom Marchant, and former wife of 30 years, Marie Andrews, with whom he remained friends.
Joe was born in Petersburg, Va. April 19, 1921, the fourth child of Rulth and Grace Scarburough Marchant. He grew up in Arlington and had a life-long love of boating. At 19, after the engine of a boat on which he was working blew up, a friend and fellow crew member, Phil Smith, pulled him out of the fire and into the Potomac River, saving his life. Hospitalized for months to recover from third degree burns, it’s no wonder he was a 35-year member and past-president of the Arlington Optimist Club.
As a young man he was a firefighter for the Washington D.C. Fire Department before joining the Air Force during WWII. After the war he earned his private, then commercial pilot’s licenses, and later, when his flying license could not be renewed due to heart problems, he obtained his boat captain’s license. Besides flying and sailing, he loved a good game of golf, and was an avid reader.
He retired in 1978 as a sales manager, and had received an award for top sales in the country for Cavalier, a North American Van Lines carrier.
Joe was a faithful member of St. James Episcopal Church in Montross until his health began to fail.
A visitation from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, June 28 will be followed by a service at Welch Funeral Home in Montross with the Rev. Alan Hooker officiating. Interment will occur Monday, June 30 at National Memorial Park in Falls Church at 11 a.m.
Memorials may be made to St. James Episcopal Church of Montross or the American Heart Association.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5