Marcus Ormsbee Obituary
Philadelphia, Ohio, United States
August 12, 1924 - January 23, 2016
Marcus Ormsbee Obituary
Aug 12, 1924 - Jan 23, 2016
CEDARVILLE — Marcus G. Ormsbee was born on August 12, 1924, in Eldorado, Kansas, to George and Claudia Ormsbee. He and his five siblings were raised in the small town of Buffalo in southwest Missouri in a home filled with music. Marcus played the baritone, ultimately earning a top rating at a national competition in high school. After graduating from Buffalo High School, he attended Drury College in Springfield, Missouri. Like many of his generation, his studies were interrupted by WWII. He enlisted in the Navy, starting his service in December of 1942. A quartermaster, he was assigned to the Liberty ship USS Naos (AK105) to support combat missions throughout the South Pacific. Upon discharge in 1946, he returned to Drury to earn his bachelor's degree in music education. The Buffalo school system welcomed him back to teach music. He spent his summers in Chicago at Northwestern University, working on a master's degree in music. A job opportunity led him to Cleveland, Ohio, where he met his wife, Ethel Way, a social worker from Philadelphia. In Cleveland he also transitioned to the new computer industry, initially taking a job as a programmer with IBM. His 37 year career in computers involved several Cleveland area firms and ultimately Picker Corporation, from which he retired in 1989. Marcus lived in Lake County for more than 50 years, including 8 years in Mentor and 44 years in Perry. He was a board member of Perry Public Library, choir director at Perry United Methodist Church, music leader at Faith Baptist Church of Perry, and elder board member at Leroy Community Chapel. He also played trombone in the Lakeland Community College Band and the Cedarville University Symphonic Band. Also a 1979 graduate of the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland, he loved the Bible, spending countless hours reading it, studying it, and teaching it to others. The Ormsbees sold their Perry home in 2004 and moved to Cedarville, Ohio, to be close to family members during their later years. However, their hearts remained with the many good friends, special memories, and beautiful property they enjoyed in Perry for more than four decades. Marcus went to heaven on August 23, 2016, after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Claudia Ormsbee, as well as siblings Robert Ormsbee, Vance Ormsbee, Nora Coppage, Lavelle Ormsbee, and Herschel Ormsbee, and a son, George L. Ormsbee. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Ethel (Way) Ormsbee; his children and grandchildren, Jeanette Call with children Kimber (Aaron) Fessler and Matthew (Jenny) Call; David (Joni) Ormsbee with children Daniel and Benjamin; Linda Chrystal with children Stephanie, Adam, Renae, and Michael; and Kathryn (John) Foreman with children Caleb and Kara; and 7 great-grandchildren. A public graveside service will be held at South Ridge Cemetery in Perry at 2 pm on Thursday, August 25. A memorial service in Cedarville is planned for the near future. Burial services are by Littleton and Rue.(www.littletonandrue.com) In lieu of flowers, friends may send gifts to the Ormsbee Family Scholarship, c/o Advancement, Cedarville University, 251 N Main Street, Cedarville, OH 45314.
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