Marshall Vance Marchbanks

Dr. Marshall V. Marchbanks,
M.D. - Six Mile, SC

Marshall Vance Marchbanks, 63, of 236 S. Main Street, and beloved husband of Elaine Roper Marchbanks for 35 years, and adoring father of Jessica Marchbanks Gifford, died Monday, October 4, 2010 at his family's residence in Six Mile following a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. He "fought the good fight" and is now enjoying perfect peace and rest in the presence of The Great Physician, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Born in Greenville, SC, he was the devoted and loving son of Claude Vance and Carolene "Tottie" Lewis Marchbanks of Clemson. He attended grammar school in Clemson and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 1961. He was a 1965 graduate of D. W. Daniel High School where he was the president of the student body, captain of the baseball team, voted "Best Leader" by his senior class as well as numerous additional honors and achievements. He earned a B.S. degree from Clemson University in 1969 where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in the School of Pre-Medicine, was a member of Phi Kappa Phi (now Phi Beta Kappa) honor fraternity as well as a member of the Air Force ROTC.

Marshall's Doctor of Medicine degree was earned at the Medical University of SC in 1973 where he also spent his surgical residency and cardiothoracic surgery residency, becoming board certified in both General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Starting in 1980, Marshall served two years on active duty in the US Navy as Assistant Chairman of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA as well as on assignment in Adak, Alaska, and received an Honorable Discharge with the rank of Lt. Commander.

He then entered private practice at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital (SRMH), Santa Rosa, CA in 1982 and served as the Chief of Cardiac Surgery from September 1, 1987 until his retirement on January 1, 2007. During his career, including his residency and military service, Marshall performed over 5,000 open heart operations, served as the Chief of Medical Staff at SRMH and served on the Board of Trustees. In 2008, the operating room suite of the new heart institute at SRMH was dedicated to Marshall in recognition of his excellent service to the hospital and surrounding community for the past 25 years.

Following retirement from private practice, Marshall moved to Edwards, CO near Beaver Creek where he made his home with his wife, Elaine and his daughter, Jessica for almost 10 years, having grown to love the splendor of God's creation in that majestic Rocky Mountain setting. He and his wife most recently returned to their family residence in Six Mile, SC as his illness progressed so he could spend time with family as he cherished time with his family above anything else he had ever achieved.

His hobbies included flying his own airplane as an instrument rated pilot, playing the piano, snow skiing, and traveling the world. He was an expert at all he did and inspired many others to greatness as well.

His love of sacred music as well as his concert style of playing led to his recording of four CDs over the past 10 years. He served as a longtime member and pianist at Bethel Baptist Church in Santa Rosa, CA and most recently at Trinity Church in Edwards, CO where he considered his gift of piano playing to be a God-given ministry of healing to be shared with others, much as he considered his skill as a surgeon to be a God-given talent of healing the hearts and lives he touched. He often served as guest pianist at the First Wesleyan Church in Central, SC where his parents are currently members and where his wife's grandparents were faithful members many years ago.

Surviving in addition to his wife, daughter, and parents are his son-in-law, Nicholas Charles Gifford and grand daughter, Marley Joy Gifford of WI, and his only sister, Sherry Marchbanks-Hudgins and husband, Eric of Cedar Mountain, NC; brother-in-law, Julien Daniel Roper and wife, Donna of Campobello, SC; sisters-in-law, Helen Roper Carter of Easley, SC, and Janet Roper Humphries and husband, Randy of Sunset, SC; and many beloved nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews: Angie and Ben Sheriff and Braxton and Colton of Easley, SC, David and Caroline Carter and Jackson of Easley, SC, Chris and Meg Carter and Eliza of Greenville, SC, Caroline and Brad Felix and Garrett, Kendall, and Henry of Winchester, VA, and Jud and Casey Roper and Mary and Julia of Maryville, TN.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 PM on Friday at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central, SC.
Funeral services will be held at 1 PM Saturday at First Wesleyan Church, 807 Wesleyan Drive, Central, SC 29630.

A private burial will follow in the Roper Family cemetery plot located behind Six Mile Baptist Church in Six Mile, SC.

The family is at their respective homes.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Trinity Church, P.O. Box 2676, Edwards, CO 81632 or to Vail Christian High School, 31621 Highway 6, Edwards, CO 81632, designated to "The Marchbanks Family Scholarship Fund."

Additional information as well as condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or to any family member to P.O. Box 531, Clemson, SC, 29633.

A memorial service to celebrate Marshall's life will be held at the Chapel at Beaver Creek in CO under the direction of Pastor Ethan Moore of Trinity Church, date to be announced.