Marvin Potts

Marvin Potts, 89, of Washington, Kansas, died Sunday, March 6, 2011 at the Homestead Nursing Home in Washington. A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 10 at Ward Funeral Home. Pastor Marilyn Sweet officiated. The Graham Quartet recordings “Amazing Grace” and “Standin’ in the Need of Prayer” were played. The pallbearers were Loren Potts, Tim Fletcher, Bob Fletcher, Mike Graham, Gary Schroeder, and Charles Mosteller. Burial was in the Washington City Cemetery. Marvin was born January 17, 1922 in Randolph, Kansas to Gustave and Amanda (Kneemeyer) Potts. Marvin grew up a member of the Swede Creek Evangelical Church, where he took his Junior Catechism, September 13, 1936. After moving to Washington he became a member of the First Presbyterian Church. On June 11, 1950 he married Dorothy Fletcher at the Presbyterian Church. In 1940 he graduated from Waterville High School and later served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army. He served with the 32nd Regiment, 7th Division during WWII and did occupation duty in Korea and Okinawa before being honorably discharged, November 3, 1946. Marvin played baseball as a pitcher and often told of the no hitter game he had pitched. Pitching an entire 18 inning game, is another baseball story he would relive many times. In their retirement years, he and Dorothy enjoyed traveling and camping. They spent five summers as camp hosts near the Grand Lake area in Colorado. Reading Civil War and WWII books and magazines were also an enjoyable past time. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Brenda Joyce; son, John William; and brother, Lester and wife Louise. Surviving him are his wife of 60 years, Dorothy; a daughter, Cynthia and husband George Desrochers of West Warwick, RI; a daughter-in-law, Janell Potts of Lees Summit, MO; grandchildren, Erin Desrochers of Boston, MA, Ryan Desrochers and fiancé Casey of Phoenix, AZ, Kaycie Potts of Lees Summit, MO; step grandchildren, Michael Dilday, Krystal Morgan; and three step great grandchildren, Kamryn, Joey and Hunter. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marvin Potts, please visit our flower store.