Carolyn Laws Marsh

Carolyn Laws Marsh, age 71, a longtime resident of New Philadelphia, died peacefully early Saturday morning, September, 17, 2005 in Union Hospital at Dover. Born at Columbus, Ohio on May 28, 1934, Carolyn was the daughter of the late W. Edward Laws and Estella Lutz Laws formerly of New Philadelphia.Carolyn graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1952. She attended Denison University at Granville, Ohio for two years before transferring to the University of Kentucky. In May, 1956, Carolyn graduated from there with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Library Science – with distinction. While in college, she was a member of the Chi Omega social sorority.Following graduation from the University of Kentucky she became a school librarian in the Shaker Heights City School District in Shaker Heights, Ohio in the fall of 1956.On May 4, 1957, she married Alvin C. Marsh, Jr. The couple observed their 48th wedding anniversary earlier this year. There were four children in their family, Andrea (Raymond) Marsh Brenner of Hudson, Ohio, Edward S. Marsh of New Philadelphia, David C. Marsh of New Philadelphia, and Steven Roger Marsh, who died in March, 1976. A grandson, Tyler S. Marsh, son of David, and a granddaughter, Julia Grace Sushila Brenner, daughter of Andrea and Raymond. She was a member of the First United Church of Christ in New Philadelphia and its Sunday school. She was active in the Sunday school and was a former Sunday school teacher. She was also a former member of the church’s Chancel Choir.Carolyn was a homemaker for her family. She was also active in community affairs. She worked with Share-A-Christmas for a number of years and was chairperson of the program in 1982 and 1983. She also had worked in the Foster Care program through T-4-C but also for the Department of Human Services beginning in 1981. Carolyn was also one of the original members of the Citizens Review Board founded in 1984 for the juvenile court system.She was also a former member of the College Club of Tuscarawas County and of the American Association of University Women in Dover.Her family, in addition to her husband, children, and grandchildren, include her brother-in-law, W. Richard Werner of New Philadelphia, two nieces, a nephew, maternal cousins; Fred (Marjorie) Lutz of Columbus, Ohio, and Ruth (Charles) Lockyer of Frankfurt, Kentucky, and paternal cousins, Harry E. (Margaret) Laws of Shelby, Ohio, and Mrs. Nancy Miller. In addition to her parents and son, a sister-in-law, Ruth Marsh Werner, precedes her in death. Carolyn had multiple sclerosis for many years and her MS become progressively worse from the middle 1980s until her death. She leaves behind a legacy of caring for the youth in the Tuscarawas Valley, especially through her work in Share-A-Christmas, the foster care program, and the juvenile justice system. Friends are invited to call Thursday afternoon, September 22, from 2-4 and 6 until 8 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The Rev. Jeff Gerber and Jill Lovett will lead a memorial service of praise and worship Friday afternoon at 1 PM in the First United Church of Christ. Mrs. Marsh will be cremated, and inurnment in the Marsh family plot at Evergren Burial Park will take place during a private family graveside service Friday morning. Those unable to attend visitation or the memorial service are invited to send condolences to the family, sign on online guest registry, and view a memorial to Mrs. Marsh by visiting the funeral home’s website. In recognition of her community mindedness, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the following charities: Share-A-Christmas, 1458 Fifth St. NW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.The Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the National Multiple-Sclerosis Society, PO Box 6028, Cleveland, OH 44101-6028 The First United Church of Christ Capital Building Fund, 201 Fair Avenue NW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.