Robert (Bob) L. Marsh

Robert LeRoy “Bob” Marsh, 92, of Ottawa, Kansas died Monday, June 20, 2022 at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, Overland Park, KS.

He was born March 28, 1930 in Wichita, KS, the first son of Robert Francis Marsh and Marjorie Evelyn (Roberts) Marsh. Before a brother, William Joe, joined them in 1932, they moved to a home built for them on a suburban acre south of Wichita. It was to be the parents’ life-long home.

Bob attended rural Enterprise elementary school for eight grades taught by three teachers.  He went into Wichita to Allison for the 9th grade and then North High for high school, graduating in 1948. After two years at the Municipal University of Wichita, studying science and engineering, he transferred to Oklahoma A&M, in Stillwater, OK, graduating in 1955 with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree and a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

While at Oklahoma A&M, he completed R.O.T.C. training and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army. After college he began 2 years of active duty, first at Fort Belvoir, VA, then in southern Germany.

After active military duty he began working for a Wichita structural engineering firm, becoming a licensed professional engineer in 1961. After Bob started working for architectural firms in Wichita, he soon became a licensed architect in Kansas in 1968. He began an architectural and engineering practice of his own in 1969 and then joined with Les Appleby, a high school friend, to form Appleby & Marsh Architects Engineers in 1972 with offices in Wichita and Salina. Bob retired from full time practice in 1992.

On September 20, 1958, Bob was united in marriage to Marion Barnes in Ottawa, KS.  They shared many interests and worked together throughout their sixty-three years of marriage.

Bob enjoyed the art of building and historic preservation. He served over two years as chair of the Historic Resources Committee of AIA Kansas, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He was a founding member and past president of the Historic Preservation Alliance of Wichita & Sedgwick County, Kansas. Bob served on the Historic Preservation Board of the City of Wichita, KS. He was a member of the Kansas Preservation Alliance, served as Board member then as president of KPA from October of 1995 to December of 1997. He served as the governor’s appointee to the Kansas Historic Sites Review Board as the Architect member for two terms. Bob served as Board member of the “Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance” a regional organization including the Kansas River Valley. He was active in “Ottawa Main Street” and served on the design committee. He was also active in “Heritage Homes of Franklin County”. He helped organize and was past President of the “Kansas Barn Alliance”, a not-for-profit corporation advocating barn and farmstead preservation. Bob was the author & photographer for the book “Barns of Kansas, a Pictorial History”, a sampling of historic Kansas barns.

He loved sailing a Snipe with his daughter and duck hunting with his son.  Bob enjoyed painting, especially with watercolors. He also enjoyed reading everything, especially about history and plays by George Bernard Shaw.

Bob is survived by his wife, Marion, Ottawa, KS; a son, Robert Marsh, Kansas City, Missouri; two grandchildren, Julia Marsh, Denver, Colorado, and David Marsh, Washington, D.C.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Marjorie Marsh; a daughter, Kathryn Ann Shaffer; and a brother, William Marsh.

A graveside service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 24, 2022, at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, KS. There will be Open Calling from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Chapel, 325 S. Hickory St., Ottawa, KS.  Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice and sent in care of Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, PO Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067.  Online condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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