Frank Henry Marsh, Jr.

Born August 4, 1928, in Knoxville, TN, Frank Henry Marsh, Jr died on April 21, 2023 at the age of 94. He graduated from Knoxville High School in December 1944. After enlisting in the army, he served in the Pacific Theatre and in Korea where he was assigned to the 971st Counter Intelligence Corps.  After returning from the army, he attended the University of Tennessee, graduated from the Law College and opened a law practice in Knoxville.  After practicing law for 25 years, he began a second professional career, entering graduate school at UT where he received a Doctorate of Philosophy with a concentration in Bioethics, in 1978.  He accepted an appointment at the University of Colorado as professor of philosophy and the University of Colorado School of Medicine as a professor of Medical Ethics and law where he established and directed the program for Bioethics, Law and Humanities. During his tenure as professor, he authored and/or co-authored six scholarly books, over 50 articles and book chapters and wrote and produced two documentary films.  Widely recognized as an expert in fields of bioethics and law, he lectured at universities, medical institutes, and medical and law conferences in the United States, England, and Europe.  He served as a consultant to the National Institute of Health in Washington, DC, and regional and national hospitals and medical groups, including locally Blount Memorial Hospital and Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.  He was elected as a Research Fellow by the Society of Health and Human Values at Temple University at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1992, he was named a Distinguished Senior Fullbright Scholar for the Czech Republic and appointed visiting professor of bioethics at Charles University in Prague.

He was also recognized for his innovative work in education and received a Center of Excellence Award from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education for his program in Medical Ethics and Law at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  He retired from the University of Colorado in 1992 after being honored with a special recognition award for his work in applied ethics and political/legal philosophy.  Upon returning to Knoxville he accepted an appointment with the Department of Philosophy at UT (Knoxville).  Not content with two wonderful professional careers, he embarked on a third career at age 80.  He wrote serious fiction, which he had long wanted to accomplish.  He wrote Rebekka's Children, followed by A Perfect Madness two years later at the age of 82.

He was a past member of the American Bar Association and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1960.  He was also a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the Knoxville Bar Association, the American Philosophical Association, and the Society of Health and Human Values.  During his early professional career, he was active in local and national politics and managed Senator Estes Kefauver's campaigns in Knox County and was city trial attorney during John Duncan's tenure as Mayor of Knoxville.

Throughout all of his life, his primary interest remained that of a deep and abiding love for his family, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and all that nature had created.  He loved to fly fish in the rivers of Colorado and the Smoky Mountains.  Later after retiring, he flew, along with his sons, to the Great Bear Lake above the Arctic Circle in a pontoon plane where he landed a 30 pound lake trout from the pristine waters. He loved all art, the great classics in literature, and music passionately.  He was a founding member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder for many years, and chaired the initial building design and construction committee, and as chair of the building committee.  He and his family are one of the six families that gathered together in a home one fall evening in 1963, where they decided to establish the church that became Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Frank passed peacefully surrounded by his family that he so fiercely loved. His loving wife of 71 years, Martha (Marty) Jane Frisbie Marsh, passed peacefully two days later.  He was the son of Frank H Marsh Sr and Margaret Barton Marsh.  He was preceded in death by his oldest daughter Catharine (Cathy) Marsh and oldest son Frank (Hank) H Marsh III.  He is survived by his treasured daughter and son Terry (Tom) Shamblin, John (Jayne) Marsh, and daughter Mollie (Seth) Marsh-Heine.  He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren Jessica (Kevin) Winslett, Martha Cate (Eric) Grover, Jacob (Aimee) Shamblin, Catie-Beth Marsh, David Marsh, Matthew Marsh, Daniel Fager, and Ruthie Fager.  In addition he is survived by his precious great-grandchildren Charley Jane Spencer, Avery Spencer, Luke Spencer, Kayden Shamblin, Liam Shamblin, and Aniston Shamblin.

At the request of the deceased and his family, a private service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church Columbarium. The family requests that any memorial donations be made to Habitat For Humanity program at Westminster Presbyterian Church or Doctors Without Borders.

"Remember, that I did not fear- it was just leaving you that was so hard to face — we cannot see beyond - but this I know, I loved you so, twas heaven here with you." 

The family would like to extend a very gracious thank-you to everyone at University of Tennessee Hospice for their care, concern, and support. Chandra Garland and Angel Levan, you both were amazing! Your loving support helped all of us and you are such a credit to your profession.