Obituary for Charles Walter "Cal" Marschall

Charles Walter “Cal” Marschall, age 85, of Westerville, OH, died Wednesday, May 4, 2016, in his home of 54 years, with his children, grandchildren, brother, and other family at his side. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Bette Ann (Williams) Marschall, and brothers Gordon (Wilma Wustrack) and James. He is survived by his brother Donald (Carol Andersen), sister Gloria (Roger Zimmerman), sister-in-law Susan (Geiger) Marschall, daughters Gwynette, Elizabeth (Joel Davis), Catherine (Ron House), sons Mark (Joy Sellers) and David (Amy Horning), grandchildren Andrew Williams (Jessica Hackworth), Bradley Williams (Aniko Zala), Philip Marschall, Cameron Williams, Owen Marschall, Rhys Davis, Helen Davis, and Eva House. Cal was born (September 25, 1930) and raised in Rosendale, WI, the son of Walter and Esther (Haberkorn) Marschall. Cal and Bette wed in 1952. He received his BS from the University of Wisconsin in 1952 and his PhD from Case Institute of Technology in 1960. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1955. Cal and Bette’s growing family lived in Biloxi, MS, Rome, NY, Madison, and Cleveland, before moving permanently to central Ohio in 1959 where Cal began his 32-year career as a metallurgist at Battelle Memorial Institute. One of his proudest accomplishments was the co-authoring of his book, Dimensional Instability: An Introduction (1977). Cal had a number of lifelong avocations. He wrote extensively, including keeping a diary as a child, a daily detailed journal since 1980, and memoirs of his life with Bette and his work history. In 2012, he produced a book of recollections of life in Rosendale in the 1930s and 1940s. Cal was a painter, and his art was celebrated with a recent show at his home. Cal was a faithful volunteer. For 20 years, he led weekly card bingo games for residents of The Village Nursing Home, many whom would become his dear friends. He participated for many years in an inside-outside brother program at Marion Correctional Facility. He led the Bette Marschall Memorial Education Fund, a grant source for Westerville Public School teachers. Cal played tennis into his 80s with a great group of men at Champions Tennis Club. A devoted and generous son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend to many, Charles had three particularly outstanding qualities: a keen intelligence that never settled for easy answers, a gentleness that made all of us want to be in his company, and a strong life spirit that taught us all how to live well at every stage of life. A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Messiah, 51 N. State St., Westerville, at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 7. The family will receive guests beginning at 10:00. Visiting hours will be today, Friday, May 6 at 4-7 p.m., at HILL FUNERAL HOME, 220 S. State St., Westerville. Donations in memory of Cal may be made to the Columbus Foundation for the Bette Marschall Memorial Education Fund, 1234 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH, 43205.