After a courageous struggle, Johnnie "John" Henry Marth Jr., 73, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, surrounded by family. He slipped away after a brief stay at Longview’s Community Home Health and Hospice.
Born in Chehalis, Wash. John grew up in Centralia driving tractor on the family farm, building forts in the haymow and raising and showing his prize-winning calves at the Southwest Washington Fair. Following graduation from Centralia High School in 1962, he married Judy Salzer. Together, they had one son.
In 1965, John moved to Chicago, Ill., to study industrial engineering. After finishing school, he went to work for Central Scientific Company, where he met and fell in love with Paula Mulryan. They eloped, marrying on Sept. 2, 1967. John and Paula would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. Tiring of corporate life, they started a successful retail fruit and produce business in Plainfield, Ill., but John’s heart was in the Northwest.
In 1978, with one young son and another on the way, they sold the business and headed west. Arriving in Centralia, John launched A-1 Sandman Construction, eventually building roads for the Department of Natural Resources and Fort Lewis. In the 80s, John turned to long-haul trucking, giving it up reluctantly in 2008, because of his health.
Retirement brought winters in Yuma, Ariz., with many fellow Centralia snowbirds, Mariners’ spring training and lots of Seahawks football. John loved watching his beloved sports teams, cooking, fishing the Cowlitz and spinning a salty story.
John is survived by his wife, Paula; sons, Russell Dean (Cindy) United States Army retired, of North Carolina, Johnny Henry (Stephanie) of Rainier, Ore., and Thomas Patrick (Christy, divorced); four grandchildren, Timothy, Makenzie, Tommy Lee and Jeremy; two great-granddaughters, Hailey and Emily; and sisters, Kathy (Ken) Harrison and Sandra "Sandy" (Craig) Hill.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church or Longview Hospice.Memorial Service:
Immanuel
Lutheran Church,
Centralia
Saturday,
March 4,2017 at 11 a.m.John will be genuinely missed,
please join us to celebrate his life.
