Arnold Edward "Ed" Marion

Mr. Arnold Edward "Ed" Marion, 83 of Mt. Airy passed from this life, surrounded by his loving wife and children, as God sent the most beautiful sunset for us to see at 5:38 PM, on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. He was born in Surry County on March 16, 1929 to the late Arnold Sebastian and Sally Leah Easter Marion. Mr. Marion was a charter member and deacon of Pleasant View Baptist Church for over 50 years. His faith in God and family made him a strong, loving and wonderful example of what a father, husband and grandfather should be. Mr. Marion retired from Duke Power Company in 1984 after 30 years of service. He loved his family and being with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He treasured spending time with them, fishing and taking vacations to the beach. Mr. Marion appreciated tools and the art of making furniture. He made each of his family members a special piece of furniture and a cutting board, crafted by his loving hands. Mr. Marion loved helping his son, Scott with his landscaping business and digging trenches with his favorite tool, "his trencher". He always was there helping anyone in need. When someone would come to ask him for something, he would jokingly respond with, "it'll cost you a quarter". He built a wonderful loving home and family that consisted of three children, six grandchildren, six-great grandchildren. "He was the driving force for his family to make us all want to do the best we could do through hard work, love of God and family." Mr. Marion is survived by his wife of almost 63 years, Annabelle Hiatt Marion of the home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Bonnie and Lane Hawks of Mt. Airy, Debby and Rick Beasley of Greensboro; a son and daughter-in-law, Edward Scott and Pam Marion of Ararat, VA; grandchildren and spouses, Dr. Jennifer Christian Smith and husband, Doug, Julie Seivers Newton and husband, Matthew, Donna Christian Stovall and husband, Chris, Joni Seivers, Lindsay Seivers Stanley and husband, Jon, Ryan Seth Marion; great grandchildren, Aidan Christopher Stovall, Mattison Grace Newton, Carter Logan Smith, Emma Katherine Stovall, Jordan Elizabeth Newton, and expecting Parker Annabelle Stanley in two weeks; a sister, Joy Lee Goad. In addition to his parents, Mr. Marion was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth M. Easter; two brothers, Robert Marion and Lester Marion. Funeral services will be held 3:00 PM Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Pleasant View Baptist Church with the Rev. Steve Parks officiating. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday at the church from 2:00 PM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials to be made in memory of Mr. Marion, to the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Rd., Dobson, NC 27017.

Only the Best

God saw he was getting tired,
And a cure was not to be;
So He put His arms around him,
And whispered, "come with Me'.

With tearful eyes we watched him suffer,
And saw him fade away;
Although we loved him dearly,
We could not make him stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands to rest;
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.