Rufus "Rb" Marshall

Rufus B. Marshall, 94, of Lake Charles, LA, passed away at 11:45 AM on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in his residence.

Mr. Marshall was born in Cameron on February 28, 1924. He attended Creole High School and graduated in 1941. He enrolled at Louisiana State University and was later called into military service during World War II. His tour of duty was in the European Theater of operations and was assigned to 87th Division of the 3rd Army as a communications technician. In December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, Mr. Marshall received shrapnel wounds and was hospitalized for several weeks.

After his honorable military discharge, he became employed by Swift & Co. for fourteen years. Upon the closing of the plant in 1960, became employed at Hercules, Inc. (the name later changed to Himont, then to Basel-Lyondell). While at Hercules, Mr. Marshall was promoted to purchasing supervisor and remained in that position until 1972. While serving as purchasing supervisor, he was an active member of the Southwest Louisiana Purchasing Agents Association.

In 1972 he became employed by Lake Charles Rubber and Gasket Co. as administrative manager and served in that capacity until 1989. After a brief retirement, he returned to Lake Charles Rubber and Gasket Co. on a part time basis until April 2015.

Rufus and his wife, Shirley, loved to travel and for the last 30+ years took numerous tours which covered most of the lower 48 states, Alaska and some areas in Canada and Mexico.

Mr. Mashall was a volunteer at Oak Park Food Pantry for numerous years and he served as grocery buyer for the pantry.

Rufus and Shirley were charter members of Oak Park United Methodist Church. They were faithful members there for fifty-two years and served on numerous committees and boards during that time. Due to a dwindling membership, the church closed in May 2009. The Marshalls then became members of Fairview United Methodist, where they made many more Christian friends.

Mr. Marshall is survived by his wife of seventy-two years, Shirley Stine Marshall; daughter, Beverly Branch and husband Oscar of Brandon, MS; son, Steven Marshall and wife Andrea of Lake Charles; grandchildren, Joel Branch and wife Andrea, Julie Pierce, and Lisa Marshall; and great-grandchildren, Kaitlin Marshall, Dylan Marshall and Lennon Pierce.

His funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, March 23, 2018 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Roger Templeton will officiate. Burial will follow in Prien Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 11:00 AM until the start of the service.