James William Marsh's Obituary
James William Marsh of Cornelius, NC passed away on May 28, 2016 at the age of 68 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Jim was born on October 18, 1947 to the late James and Margaret “Peg” (Donoghue) Marsh and grew up in Springfield, MA.
Jim married the love of his life and best friend Irene Duff on August 29, 1970 in Springfield.
Jim had an impressive 35-year career in sales and marketing, starting out as a salesperson for R.J. Reynolds, eventually being named senior vice president of their beverage division. His various leadership roles at the company took him from Boston, MA to Atlanta, GA; Winston-Salem, NC; Houston, TX; Paoli, PA; and Avon, CT. In 1986, he moved to Lancaster, PA and went to work for Hamilton Watch where he rose to become President and Chief Executive Officer. After 10 years in Lancaster, he moved to Cornelius, NC where he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Tharpe Company in Statesville, NC. In 2005, Jim started Marsh Business Solutions, a consulting firm focused on sales, marketing and strategic planning. He served on the boards of several companies including Aquesta Bank, Dri-Mark Products and Weaver Leather.
Jim loved to play and watch sports. As a father, Jim was an enthusiastic coach for his sons’ teams, from soccer to ice hockey. In his later years, Jim was an avid golfer and was an active member at the Peninsula Club. He was also a huge Boston Red Sox fan.
Jim loved to cook, garden, boat on Lake Norman, play card games with family and friends and travel. He enjoyed visiting places all over the world, but one of his favorite spots was Hilton Head Island, where he spent time with his family.
A dear friend to so many, Jim was an incredibly social man, with a singular ability to engage with people; he never forgot a name or a face and always made people feel welcome and special. Jim had boundless energy and was passionate about everything that he did. Jim loved to laugh and make others laugh with his deep collection of jokes and stories. He had an incredible memory for all kinds of trivia, and he loved music, especially the golden oldies.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Irene Marsh of Cornelius, NC; sons Christopher James Marsh (Elizabeth Curtis) of New York, NY and Ryan Francis Marsh (Amy Erb) of Charlotte, NC; four grandchildren: Ella Marsh, Rowan Marsh, Will Marsh, and Margaret Marsh; and sister Nora Lee Ashe of Chicopee, MA.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 4 in the chapel of James Funeral Home of Huntersville. Online condolences may be made at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
A reception will follow the memorial service at The Peninsula Club, 19101 Peninsula Club Dr, Cornelius, NC 28031.
The family would like to thank his physicians, Hospice nurses and the caring staff of the Levine & Dickson Hospice House. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148.
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