Sunday, July 5, 2020
John Marsh was a very special person to me and after reading this obituary I learned why. I never knew before now that he had lost his father early on in life and had to look for a father figure elsewhere. We met when my mother purchased a house across from John and Carolyn. We had moved there because my father had been taken from us due to a job related accident. I too was looking for someone to help fill a void in my life. John didn't seem to mind a gangly, pimply faced teenager hanging around. I suspect the presence of that black and yellow car in his front yard had something to do with the attraction. I offered my services of washing that patrol car free of charge and a friendship that lasted 56 yrs started. He took up a lot of his spare time with me and we fished and did a lot of outdoor activities. He taught me how to shoot a pistol and how to drive his old army jeep off road. He took me to where he had some property in the Ocala National Forest. We hauled scrap lumber on a trailer from Green Cove to there and we built that hunting cabin. We also put in a well by hand. He told me that well still provided good water up until the day he had to sell the property. He also taught me how to investigate an accident, the hard way. I got myself into causing an accident. As luck would have it, up pulls that black and yellow car and out steps John. He asked if I had seen the accident happen. My reply was, Yep I had a pretty good view of the whole thing. He didn't seem too amused. He told me to take my mom and brothers and sisters home and return to the scene. On my return he had me walk through the scene with a clip board and write down some measurements he was taking. After we cleared the scene we returned to his home office and he had me type the report and draw the diagram. Then he had me sign the ticket for violation of right of way and he told me when I would have to appear in court. After I graduated from high school I joined the Army. I tried to enlist in the Military Police but as luck would have it I was too young. I was 17 and to be an M.P. I had to be 18. I did 7 yrs. in the Signal Corp. When I finished my military obligation John helped me apply to FHP. It took me 9 months which at that time was a short wait, to get into the academy. John had spoken to some higher ups and gotten the papers processed quicker than usual. I never worked for John but he kept trying to get me to transfer so we could work together. I didn't want to leave Troop K. We remained good friends up until he took his last breath. I always told people that John was my adopted father. I adopted him. I will miss him but the relationship carries on with Davonne and family.
Ocala (352) 414-4206 | The Villages (352) 561-8048 
Live Chat
Chat
