Earl Robert Marvin

Rev. Earl R. Marvin (90) died Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas. Earl Robert Marvin and his sister, Earline Ruth were born December 5, 1933, to Rev. Hulbert Harlon “H.H.” and Mary Marjorie (Putt) Marvin in Bel Aire, Ohio. The family moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the twins spent their formative years. A final move put them in Akron, Ohio, before Earl and Earline went to Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee, Illinois.

At Olivet, Earl met Avonlea “Lee” Woods, daughter of E.E. & Esta (Cottrell) Woods, of Columbus, Ohio. They were married August 22, 1953, in Columbus. After college, they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Earl pursued graduate studies at Nazarene Theological Seminary. He was ordained an elder in the Church of the Nazarene on the Kansas City District, and pastored in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, before retiring to Spring Hill, Kansas. Throughout his ministry, Earl was involved in civic organizations; he was honored as a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow. In retirement, he and Lee served a short term assignment with Nazarenes in Volunteer Service in Papua, New Guinea.

After 56 years of marriage, Lee died November 24, 2009. On February 28, 2013, Earl married Lenore (Sloan; Mrs. Roy) Simpson in Olathe, Kansas. They were married for 10 years until her death March 23, 2023.

Among Earl’s passions was travel, and up until shortly before his death, he believed, “I still have a couple of good trips in me.” Traveling both for pleasure and for mission trips took him across the globe and to all 50 states.

Another of his passions was stained-glass. He could always be found in his workshop working on another stained-glass, etched, or beveled window. Many of these were sold or donated; some were traded to other artists in exchange for their paintings. His windows can be found in the Nazarene Archives as well as in homes and churches across the country, including the prayer chapel at College Church of the Nazarene.

Preceded in death by his parents and sister, by Lee, and by Lenore, Earl is survived by four sons and two daughters-in-law: Timothy E. “Tim” Marvin, Mark D. and Shirley (Hendley) Marvin, Eric D. and Dr. Leigh (Morris) Marvin, all of Olathe, and Gary W. Marvin of Oklahoma City; grandchildren Chris and Rosalie “Ro” (Pingatore) Marvin of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Cary and Amanda (Dickhut) Marvin of Olathe, Audra (Marvin) and David (Spencer) Spiven of Kansas City, and Rachel (Marvin) and Matthew “Matt” Borger, Matthew Marvin, Daniel Marvin, and Sarah Marvin, all of Olathe; and great-grandchildren Vera and Oliver “Ollie” Marvin of Kenosha, and Avery and Gabriel “Gabe” Marvin of Olathe.

Also surviving are brothers- and sisters-in-law Phil and June (Woods) Petrie, and George and Marian (Woods) Hood; six nephews and nieces, several great-nephews and -nieces, and cousins.

Memorial gifts may be made to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, in care of College Church of the Nazarene.

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