Joseph Allen Marshall, 78, of Tunnelton, went to be with the Lord Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, following a battle with cancer. He was born June 11, 1943, in Grantsville, to the late Albert Morris Marshall and Bertie (Williams) Marshall.
He was born again by trusting Jesus Christ for his soul’s salvation at the age of 14 years old, while attending Akron Baptist Temple in Akron, Ohio.
A Vietnam veteran, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1964-67 and later graduated from Fairmont State College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He wed the love of his life, Janet (Shaver), Aug. 12, 1967, and they
were married 54 wonderful years.
While in Fairmont, he felt God’s call on his life and moved to Greenville, S.C., to attend Bob Jones University to train for Christian ministry. After graduating with a Master of Divinity degree, he returned to Fairmont and served as a teacher at Calvary Christian School and also youth pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church.
He felt a burden to start a Christian camp, but it wasn’t until 1985 that that vision was realized, when the Lord provided land in Tunnelton, to start Wildwood Christian Retreat on property that had belonged to his mother. He sacrificially dedicated much of his life to the camp ministry that God had called him to. Many testimonies could be told of the lives touched as God has worked in hearts at Wildwood over the years.
While building and directing the camp ministry, he was a rural mail carrier out of Independence Post Office for
20 years.
He was a member of Independent Baptist Church of Kingwood, where he faithfully served as song leader, Sunday school teacher and deacon.
Well-known for his sense of humor, he continued to make us laugh until his death. He was a violin and guitar player and sang and played numerous numbers in church throughout his life. He loved the Lord, and his life could be characterized by one word: “faithful.” Only heaven will reveal how many folks he witnessed to about the Lord.
A loving husband, father and grandfather, he is greatly missed. But he is now rejoicing with His Savior, and he can truly say, it is well with his soul.
In addition to his parents, Allen was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and Dave. He is survived by his wife, Janet, and four children, Amy (Chris) Long, of Maidens, Va., Janna (Brady) Puetz, of Sussex, Wis., Aaron (Lisa) Marshall, of Dawsonville, Ga., and Joel (Heather) Marshall, of Tunnelton; and his grandchildren, Mercy, Christiana and Selah Long, Luke, Lilly and Lavinia Puetz, Angelina and Avie Marshall and Zachary, Moriah, Nathaniel, Jeremiah, Russell and Katie-Rose Marshall. Also surviving are his sister, Pat Whitehouse, and his brother, John (Lee) Marshall.
Friends may call at Independent Baptist Church, 917 N. Preston Highway, Kingwood, from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1, and from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2. The funeral will be held at Independent Baptist Church, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, followed by a dinner at the church. Interment will follow at West Virginia National Cemetery in Pruntytown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wildwood Christian Retreat, 355 Blanche Fullmer Road, Tunnelton, WV 26444.
