Donald Heber Marsh

YORK, Maine - The Rev. Father Donald Heber Marsh, 87, of 374 South Side Road, P.O. Box 365, York, died Dec. 4, 2009, at his home with his loving wife, Deane (Gilmour) Marsh, by his side.Father Marsh was born in Torrington, Conn., on Nov. 13, 1922. He was a graduate of Wilby High School in Waterbury, Conn., a 1948 graduate of the University of Connecticut and he graduated from Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Conn., in 1951. His mentor was the Rt. Rev. John Thompson Dallas, retired Bishop of New Hampshire. Father Marsh and Bishop Dallas were former members of St. John's Episcopal Church in Waterbury. He was called to New Hampshire by the Rt. Rev. Charles Francis Hall, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. On May 25, 1951, he was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hanover, N.H. On June 24, 1951, he became the Vicar of the Church of the Redeemer and began his New Hampshire Ministry.On Nov. 28, 1951, he was ordained a priest at the Charles Street Church by Bishop Hall. The service was broadcast live by radio station WWNH of Rochester. Within six years of his ministry, he had tripled the size of the congregation and the parish decided to build a new church on Wakefield Street. The new Church of the Redeemer was dedicated by Bishop Dallas and Bishop Hall in March of 1959. After 34 years as priest and rector, he retired in June of 1985. His priesthood was dedicated to the sick and he would be seen daily at Frisbie Memorial Hospital and weekly visits to shut-ins at home and in the areas nursing homes. He conducted the morning hymnal at WWNH daily in his early years and was very active in the Rochester Clergy Association of Ministers and Priests. During his tenure at the Redeemer the annual Good Friday service was held in that church. He was honored by many organizations including the Humane Lodge 21 A.&F.M. of which he was a member, Rochester Chamber of Commerce who presented him with The Citizen of the Year Award, the Rochester Jaycees who presented him with the Distinguished Service Award, honors by the Rochester Lodge of Elks, the Rochester Lion's Club where he was an active member, the Rochester Veteran's Council, Alcoholic's Anonymous who met weekly at his Church and the N.H. Program on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.He is survived by his wife, Deane; his niece, Donna Lange Bock and her husband, Charles, of Middlebury, Conn.; his nephew, Albert G. Lange and his wife, Jeannette, of Thomaston, Conn., and his four great-nephews, Albert Lange, Robert Lange, James Lange and Thomas DeMarest. He was predeceased by his parents, Heber Augustus Marsh and Belle Bailey Marsh and his sister and her husband, Lila Marsh Lange and Albert G. Lange. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Trinity Anglican Church, 108 Rochester Hill Road, Rochester, on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m. and from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. the choir and congregation will sing his favorite Hymns of the Church.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Endowment of Trinity Church, P. O. Box 1078, Rochester, N.H., or to the charity of one's choice.Arrangements are under the direction of the R. M. Edgerly and Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., Rochester.Visit the online guest book at www.fosters.com/obits