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2017 SESSION

17105300D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 415
Offered February 15, 2017
Celebrating the life of Marshall Lee Garst.
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Patrons-- Obenshain; Delegates: Cline, Landes and Wilt
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WHEREAS, Marshall Lee Garst of Bridgewater, a proud and decorated Marine and organic chemist, who developed plastic products that improved many people’s lives, died on December 9, 2016; and

WHEREAS, the son of Paul and Gladys Garst, Marshall Garst was born in Mount Crawford; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from high school, Marshall Garst joined the United States Marines and was a sergeant and a tank commander in the First Marine Division during the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, wounded by enemy fire during a heated battle, Marshall Garst earned a Purple Heart and was awarded the Silver Star by the President of the United States; he received the prestigious Order of the Military Merit 4th Class Wharang 3rd Grade from the South Korean government; and

WHEREAS, upon returning to Virginia from military duty, Marshall Garst enrolled at Bridgewater College, where, despite his war injuries, he became an outstanding pitcher for the college baseball team and earned the nickname “Fireball Garst” from his teammates; and

WHEREAS, Marshall Garst worked three night jobs to pay his way through Bridgewater College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry; and

WHEREAS, Marshall Garst was employed as an organic chemist by Reynolds Metals in Grottoes for 39 years, during which time he helped to develop the oven cooking bag and other useful plastic products; and

WHEREAS, Marshall Garst was fluent in Mandarin Chinese and German, and, after retirement, he traveled to China and the Netherlands to help open plastics plants, and taught at Blue Ridge Community College and James Madison University; and

WHEREAS, Marshall Garst was a lifelong member of Bridgewater Church of the Brethren, and he enjoyed spending quality time with his large family, especially his 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Marshall Garst will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his beloved wife of 62 years, Freda; children, Fred, Gary, Theresa, and Marsha, and their families; and a host of other relatives and good friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Marshall Garst, a proud and decorated Marine and retired Reynolds Metals chemist; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Marshall Garst as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.