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Health & Fitness

Merrill F. Marshall

...Retired Tewksbury Firefighter; Korean War era USAF Veteran; 83

TEWKSBURY - Merrill F. Marshall, age 83, a proud Veteran, member of the I.A.F.F. Local 1647, and a retired  Tewksbury Fire Department firefighter,  entered into eternal rest on Wednesday afternoon, November 6, at L.G.H., Saint’s Campus. In his last moments, he was surrounded by his beloved family, following a long and challenging struggle with declining health.  He was the beloved husband of June M. (d’Entremont) Marshall, with whom he had celebrated a 58th wedding anniversary this past February 12th.

Merrrill was born at Sunnyside Hospital in Somerville, on May 23, 1930, one of seven children of the late Cedric and Beatrice (Bennett) Marshall, and was raised in Stoneham, where he attended St. Patrick’s Grammar and High Schools. 

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After graduation from high school, he matriculated to Boston College. He left college early and enlisted into the U.S. Air Force in 1950.  He served with the European Occupation Forces in England during the Korean War.  He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Medals upon his honorable discharge in 1954.

Following his marriage to June, they moved to Tewksbury in 1956 to raise their family.  The Marshall family were communicants of St. William’s Parish.

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He began his working career at Atlantic Gelatin in Woburn, and became a Call Firefighter for the Town of Tewksbury from 1959 to 1961.  He was appointed to the Tewksbury Fire Department as a permanent Firefighter on January 28, 1962, and retired twenty three years later on December 21, 1985. 

Firefighter Marshall was a proud Charter Member of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1647, and served in the capacity of Vice President Emeritus and Legislative Agent of the P.F.F.M.  As a family of firefighters, Mr. Marshall’s two brothers and two cousins served as firefighters in Stoneham, Chelsea and Boston.

Mr. Marshall was an active member of the Tewksbury V.F.W. Post 8164, and the Tewksbury American Legion Post 259. He was also a “history buff” and possessed numerous books detailing the Civil War and WWII.  Mr. Marshall was an avid fan of Boston’s professional sports teams, and could be found in front of the T.V. enthusiastically rooting for the Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, or Celtics.

Besides his beloved wife, he leaves four children, Michael Marshall and his wife Janet (Sutherby) of Hudson, NH, Eileen Crear and her husband Thomas of Lowell, Lois Goodell and her husband Steven of Tewksbury, and Maureen Marshall of Lowell; three grandsons, Aaron Crear of Lowell, Andrew Crear and his wife Lisa of Pepperell, and Robert Goodell of Tewksbury; two great grandsons, Rion Crear and Egan Crear; a brother, Robert Marshall of Stoneham; three sisters-in-law, Erika Marshall of CA, Gertrude Marshall of Stoneham, and Lorraine d’Entremont of CT.

He was predeceased by four brothers, George, Paul, John, and Lawrence Marshall; and a sister, Mary Dooling.

Visiting hours Sunday, Nov. 10, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.  in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, PH (978 OR 800 in MA) 851 2950.  His funeral will begin Monday, Veteran’s Day,  Nov. 11, at 9:00 from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass Monday at  10:00 in St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte. 38) Tewksbury.  Burial with Firefighter and Air Force Honors will be in Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to the charity of donors choice will be appreciated.  tewksburyfuneralhome.com      
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