Marvin Roscoe Ketcham, age 86 years, 3 months, 8 days, passed away at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, OR. Marvin was born July 5, 1938 at Congo, Ohio to Ira and Lillian (Weaver) Ketcham. Marvin was united in marriage to Edith Hostetler on April 30, 1960 at Indianapolis, Indiana, having celebrated 64 years together.

Surviving are his wife, Edith, four daughters, Elona, Marla (Paul) Kropf of Halsey, OR, Jenny of Waynsboro, PA, Lori of Newburg, PA. There are 8 grandchildren, Clark (Carolina) of Hummingbird, Belize, Kara (Steve) Miller of El Chal, Guatemala, Sharla (Roberto) Flamenco of Spanish Lookout, Belize, Jared of Los Angeles, CA and Andrea of Halsey, OR, Savannah Ketcham of Newburg, PA, Skylar and Shyanne Weaver of Waynesboro, PA; 6 great-grandchildren, Jaquelin, Joseph, Marvin, Elena, and Charles Kropf of Hummingbird, Belize and Oseas Miller of El Chal, Guatemala.

Also surviving is one sister, Naomi Helmuth of Goshen, IN. There are nieces and nephews who he loved as well as great nieces and nephews that he took an interest in.

Preceding Marvin in death were his parents, one infant sister, Lena, one brother and his wife, Norman and Betty, three sisters and their husbands, Thelma and Clair Reed, Delsie and Milford Dodson, Wilda and Nile Bolyard, one brother-in-law, David Helmuth.

From a young age Marvin had a strong desire to attend church and be active in the work of the Church. The Beech Mennonite Church of Louisville, Ohio came to the Congo community and held Summer Bible School and because of the interest that Marvin and several other young people had, they started Sunday School and worship services in September, 1952. Marvin accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and became a member of the church along with his sister, Naomi.

After high school graduation, in 1956, Marvin attended Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, VA. Returning home he worked in a wholesale house for a short time. Then in May of 1958 he went to Indianapolis, IN and served his two years of IW at Methodist Hospital in physical therapy. After completing his two years, he married Edith, whom he met at the First Mennonite Church in Indianapolis. They established their first home in Corning, OH.

Later Marvin and his family moved to Engadine, MI where he was ordained to the ministry, September 26, 1967 under the Indiana-Michigan Conference. He served as pastor at Engadine, MI, Littlefork, MN and York, PA. Marvin and his family moved to Oregon in June of 1991. Marvin engaged in various types of work throughout the years—hospital orderly, clerk in a grocery store, activities director and therapy at a nursing home, carpentry, school teacher for 15 years, office work. Finally he, along with his family started a variety store, Ketch’s Variety (now Shoppe of Shalom in Halsey). Marvin and Edith loved working in the store, enjoyed meeting customers and supplying their needs. Since 1995, Marvin has helped with many funerals. In doing so fulfilled a vision of his to have that service established for the local churches.

Marvin was faithful to the choice of his youth to be a Christian and a part of the Mennonite Church. He upheld the doctrines of the Bible and was faithful to the Lord until his death. He was interested in helping our youth and always carried a concern for the spiritual direction of the Church and for his children and grandchildren.

We as a family want to especially thank our church family for showing your love and care over the past month and for your many prayers. You meant so much to Dad. We know he would have loved to visit with each of you, but he felt he just didn’t have the strength for it. He desired that each one would be faithful.

We also want to thank the staff at the Good Samaritan Hospital who cared for Dad in the ICU and the PCU units. They gave him wonderful support in his determination to get well and come home. We appreciated their care to us as a family especially in the last few weeks.

There will be a viewing on Friday evening, Oct 18 6-8 PM. Funeral will be Saturday, Oct 19 at 10:30 AM, both at the Halsey Mennonite Church, 1st St. Halsey.

Memorial contributions can be made to Christian Aid Ministries or Harrisburg Mennonite Church.

To the community who supported the store and have been a friend to Dad, we say a huge thank you!