Obituary: Marvin James Echard

Marvin James Echard, born June 15, 1923, in Shidler, Oklahoma, to Maudie Lee and Sidney William Echard, died April 14, 2016, at home in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Marvin loved the Lord all his life and was a devoted Christian.

At 17 years old, Marvin went to a CCC Camp in Colorado for one year. After coming back, he attended a trade school in Oklahoma. He then traveled to Seattle, Washington, to become an arc welder to build ships for the war effort. Then it was on to Berkley, California, again welding ships. This lasted until Uncle Sam said, “I want you!”

He attended basic training at Fort Fannan, Texas. He spent six months in Ireland training at bulldozer school. Following training, he was on to the war in Europe, getting wounded the first day of combat and earning a purple heart. He said, “he wasn’t sure he was liking this war.”

He served in WWII in Europe with the 12th Engineer Combat Battalion attached to the 8th infantry division. Marvin was a bulldozer operator thru the remainder of the war and was discharged Oct. 21, 1945.

Coming back from service, he served his apprenticeship as a painter for three years in Berkeley, California.

While in Berkeley he met his devoted & lovely wife-to-be, Oletta Ingram. They were married July 1, 1949. Daughter Diana Lee, was born in Berkeley, one year later. Son Marvin (Mark) James Jr. was born three years later in Norman, Oklahoma.

Marvin contracted and owned his own business in California, Oklahoma and Texas.

He retired in Vacaville, California, in 1986 after a 40-year career.

Marvin and Oletta moved to Prescott Valley, Arizona in 1994.

Oletta died in 2002 of Lou Gehrig’s disease after almost 53 years of wonderful, wedded life.

After the death of his wife, Oletta, he met and married Betty Frances Luckesen. They were happily married over 13 years with a wonderful blended family: daughter Diana Lee (Dan) Cummings; sons (Mark) Marvin James (Cheri), Betty’s son Steven (Tami) Luckesen; grandchildren Keri (Gary) Bruins, Danny Cummings, Carly Echard, Jayme Echard, J D Luckesen, Steven Lucksesn, Elijah (Katherine) Otten, Leah (Luis) Otten Morales. Great-grandchildren include Riley Bruins, Colin Bruins, Avery Bruins, Teagan Echard and Ryan Clark, and Arabella Otten.

Memorial Service was private. Pastor Lloyd Teeter from the Prescott First Church of the Nazarene officiated. Burial will be at Mountain View Cemetery, Prescott.

No flowers, please. If you wish to remember Marvin, donations to the Prescott First Church of the Nazarene or the Humane Society would be appreciated.

Information provided by survivors.