Robert E. Marsh

Robert E. Marsh, 81, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday October 1, 2008 at St. Bernard's Medical Center.

He was born June 12, 1927 in Steele, Missouri and had lived in Jonesboro since 1972. He was a WWII Navy veteran, and served from 1943-1945. He got his B.S. degree in Engineering at Arkansas State University in 1951. He was a staff member for Sandia Corporation in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1954-1965, where his assignments were the preparation of engineering for several weapon system proposals. He designed a single-stage rocket sled which established a ground speed record of 2,850 feet per second in 1956. He was a Project Engineer for the high altitude weapon system tested during 1962.

He was the program manager in Boulder, Colorado for Orbiting Solar Observatories, Ball Brothers Research Corporation from 1965-1970., designing, development, fabrication, test, and launch of OSO’s Nos.3, 4, 5, and 6., which are all currently in orbit and fully operational. He was a Project Engineer for the Jupiter warhead system. He designed the first successful marking system for recovery of the Atlas nose cone/weapon system; he was promoted to one of three test engineers responsible for the development and test of the first thermonuclear device. He served as test engineer for the first three weaponized versions of thermonuclear devices.

He established Harley-Davidson of Jonesboro Motorcycle Dealership, February 10, 1975 to the present time.
He was of the Methodist belief and was preceded in death by his parents Edward H. and Pearl Vannie Edward Marsh, and two sisters.

Survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Betty Marsh of the home. One son, Bryan Marsh and wife Mary Carolyn of Jonesboro. Two daughters, Alecia Warnock and husband Prince of Birmingham, Alabama, and Judy Jonker of Anna, Texas. One brother, Tommy Marsh, of East Troy, Wisconsin. Four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. until service time Friday evening in Emerson Memorial Chapel.

A Memorial service will be held Friday evening October 3, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. at Emerson Memorial Chapel, with Prince Warnock officiating. Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro in charge.

Family requests that you please consider the St. Bernard's Hospice 2813 Forest Home Rd. Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401,Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Society, American Heart Association P.O. Box 840692 Dallas, Texas 75284-0692, or N.E.A. Humane Society 6111 E. Highland Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401or the Alzheimer’s Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl.17 Chicago, Ill. 60601-7633.