He was a graduate of the former Swarthmore High School class of 1948 and served as a volunteer firefighter with the Swarthmore Fire and Protective Association. He left Washington College to enlist in the US Army during the Korean War. After serving in the Army he returned to Wallingford and joined his father’s business, Wilson Oil. He became Vice President of the company and later owner when his father retired. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Media, The St. Andrew’s Society, The Union League of Philadelphia specifically the Youth Work Foundation, Wilmington Country Club, Better Home Heat Council, Rehoboth Beach Country Club, Pennsylvania Petroleum Association, Rolling Green Country Club, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Wallingford Community Arts Center. He had been a member of Swarthmore Presbyterian Church since childhood.
Marvel was an avid golfer and hunter. He and his wife loved to travel and had visited all seven continents. He also enjoyed pastimes such as reading about WWII & military history, listening to big band music, dancing to swing jazz, spending time with his grandchildren, European performance automobiles, Labrador Retrievers, and collecting USA silver coins.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years Sally (nee Bingham) Wilson, son Garrett Marvel of Brooklyn, NY, daughters Betsy O’Connell of West Chester, PA, and Sara Jane Timmerman of Deland, FL, a brother Layton Wilson of Avalon, NJ, and 5 grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 6:30-8:30 pm Thursday, February 14 at Carr Funeral Home, 935 South Providence Road, Wallingford. A memorial service will be held at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, 727 Harvard Avenue Swarthmore, on Friday, February 15 at 3 pm. A reception will follow at the Wallingford Community Arts Center, 414 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Youth Work Foundation of the Union League of Philadelphia (www.ulheritagecenter.org) or the Media Rotary Foundation (www.mediarotary.org)
Published in The News Journal on Feb. 14, 2013