Ronald Charles Marsh

Ronald C. Marsh, 77, beloved husband of Elaine M. (Joyce) Marsh, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at the UMass Memorial Medical Center, University Campus.

Born in Holden and raised in Rutland, Ronald was the only son of the late Charles and Eileen (Cowperthwaite) Marsh. After graduating from Wachusett Regional High School he went on to further his education. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he was a proud member of the Beta Kappa Phi Fraternity.

Ronald was a devoted and faithful member of the First Congregational Church of Rutland. He was very active in the church council and always quick to volunteer wherever help was needed.

As a young man, Ron was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and received the highest achievement attainable, the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. Ron worked tirelessly for ten years as a Scoutmaster to mentor the many Rutland Scouts of Troop 141 and was a member of the Troop Committee. He always enjoyed getting together with the Friends of Treasure Valley on Wednesday mornings. Ron was a member of the Rutland Lions Club and served as President for two terms. He received the Melvin Jones Award, the Lions International Highest Award and the Joseph J. Camarda Fellowship Award, District 33A Award in 2022.

Ron was a well-known figure in the community, one who was overwhelmingly generous with his time. He took pride in putting up the American Flags all along Maple Avenue for various holidays and parades. In his spare time, Ron enjoyed hiking, high adventure trips, canoeing, kayaking, walking, and playing cribbage with his friends.

He will be lovingly missed and remembered by his beloved wife of 55 years, Elaine; his only son, Stephen Marsh and his partner, Thea Marcoux of Shrewsbury; his three sisters, Christine Domptail and her husband, Raymond of France, Leah Oliver and her husband, William of Rutland and Sara (Sally) West of Hawaii; his four cherished grandchildren whom he was affectionately known as “Bumpy”, Chase, Fallon, Sawyer and Cole Marsh, all of Shrewsbury; two sisters-in-law, Madeline Mullin of Hudson and Janet Duggan and her husband, Richard of York, ME; two brothers-in-law, John Joyce and his wife, Kathleen of Tampa, FL and Robert Joyce of The Villages, FL. Ron also leaves many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, February 5 in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 6 at the First Congregational Church of Rutland, 264 Main Street, Rutland. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to the First Congregational Church of Rutland, PO Box 484, Rutland, MA 01543, the Rutland Lions Club, PO Box 626, Rutland, MA 01543 or to the Rutland Boy Scouts, Troop 141, in care of Bob Martin, Treasurer, 84 Britney Drive, Holden, MA 01520.

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