Charles Arthur Marsh

Charles Arthur Marsh – better known as Chuck, Skipper, Dad, and Papa – passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025. Chuck and Peggy recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. While we are sad to have him leave this earth, we remember what an amazing and adventurous life he led, his generous heart, his eye for tie dye, and the love he had for his family.

Chuck was born in 1939 to Joanne (Harlan) and Charles Franklin Marsh, and spent his early years in Woodland. As soon as he turned 17, he enlisted in the US Navy, where he served as a hospital corpsman for 4 years. After leaving the service, he earned his GED and attended San Bernardino Valley College alongside his future mother-in-law, Millie Penwell. He graduated from CSUS and went on to receive a masters in correctional counseling from Chapman College.

Chuck and Peggy married in 1967 in Redlands, California. They welcomed Brenda in 1973 and Susan in 1974. Chuck went on to serve as a probation officer for Sacramento County, where he retired in 1999.

Chuck’s adventurous spirit and dedication to his family were the foundation for much of his life. He was an avid skier and scuba diver, taking regular ski trips with the entire family and scuba diving with Brenda. He got his private pilot’s license in the early 1980s and spent more than 30 years as a member of the Sacramento Valley Pilots Association (SVPA), flying Cessnas and Bonanzas throughout the west and as far as the Bahamas. He loved spending time at his cabin near Grover Hot Springs and by the ocean in Pacific Grove. He also donated many years in retirement to volunteering with Loaves and Fishes, and many gallons of blood to the Sacramento Blood Bank. His generosity with friends, family, and those in need knew no bounds.

Chuck leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Peggy, daughters Brenda and Susan Marsh, and granddaughter Ramona. He will be laid to rest at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon. A celebration of life will take place later this year to continue remembering the life of our dear husband, dad, and grandpa.