Marion Shoenfelt

Marion Justus Shoenfelt, Major AUS Retired (November 21, 1923- April 25, 2012) Marion J. Shoenfelt, age 88, went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. He was born November 21, 1923 in Muncie, Indiana to Henry Elvin Shoenfelt and Cora Estella Stom. He graduated from Boys High School in Atlanta, Georgia, in June of 1941. He worked as a manager at Kinnney Shoes, where his dad and uncle had been the first employees hired by the company. He also attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, until he was drafted in March of 1943 into the Army Aircorp. He served in the South Pacific as a member of the 390th Bombardment Squadron with a B-25 Group. During his service he was a light truck driver, was qualified as an expert carbine marksman, and served in the following battles and campaigns: Bismark, Archipelago, New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Southern Philippine (Liberation), Luzon, Western Pacific, and Go 105 WD 45. He received the following decorations and citations for his service in WWII: American Theater Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with 6 bronze stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, with 1 bronze star, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribbon, and 3 Overseas Service Bars. By the end of World War II he had been promoted to the rank of corporal, and in December of 1945 he received an honorable discharge. Returning to live with his parents, who had moved to Dallas, Texas, he enrolled in Southern Methodist University and joined the Army AirCorp Reserves. While a student at SMU, he met Nell Harden, and on August 30, 1947 in Dallas, Texas, the two were married; they were blessed with two children. In January of 1949 Marion was called from Reserve status and given a direct commission as an officer in the US Army. He was in the first Transportation class in Ft. Eustis, Virginia. He also attended Food Services School, and served as Company Mess Officer, Post Headquarters at Ft. Mason in San Francisco, California, for one-and-a-half years. From there he was transferred to Newport News, Virginia, where he trained troops who were about to be deployed to Korea. Returning to Ft. Eustis, he served as Stevedore Officer, Blacksmith Shop Superintendent, Supply Officer, and Executive Officer of the 41st T Truck Company. In 1951 he became the Company Commander, Special Duty with Company A Prov T Trucking Battalion. The next year he became the Company Commander of Company C. In August of 1952 he went to Korea where he served as the Executive Officer of the 73rd T Trucking Company, and in October 1952 he became Company Commander of that unit. In 1953 he went to 8th Army Headquarters as an Executive Officer of the 21st Transportation Car Company. For his participation in the Korean Conflict, Marion earned the following decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations and campaign ribbons: United Nations Service Medal, Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. In August of 1953, Marion was deployed to Japan where he became the Port Stevedore Officer. His next assignment was at Ft. Hood, Texas, where he served as the Post Motor Pool Officer. In May of 1956 he was sent to USARCARIB in Panama where he served as Highway Planning and Transportation Officer. While assigned to Panama, he attended the Traffic Institute at Northwestern University in Chicago, conducted for selected personnel of the Department of the Army. He graduated from the School of Motor Vehicle and Traffic Safety for the Army. Also, while in Panama, he escorted VIP's from Washington, D.C., into the Indian country. He was friends with the chiefs and medicine men of the Choco and Kuna tribes and was allowed to do excavations in the Indian territories. The assignment in Panama was his last duty assignment and major command as an Active Duty Officer. In 1959 he received his second honorable discharge from the US Army. He returned to SMU and completed his studies, earning a BA in Biology. Beginning in 1960, Marion served in the Reserves at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated in 1965 from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. While at Ft. Sam Houston, he was in charge of Mobilization and Disaster Emergency Services for the Transportation Service. In 1965 he enrolled in the first year Command and General Services, Dodd Field, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. On November 21, 1983, Marion retired from the US Army. A member of the "Great Generation", Marion loved and served his country for forty years and eight months of active and reserve duty. He had served during WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Cold War, earning a total of thirty-four medals and ribbons. In his civilian life Marion had a very successful career as a pharmaceutical salesman for Hoffmann-LaRoche. Three times he was named a Top Ten Salesman for Military and Hospital Sales, worldwide. With his company, he was part of the first sales team to bring Librium and Valium to the marketplace. In 1970 he became a regional sales manager in Texas for National Health Laboratories. In 1972, he was recruited by Bioregional Reference Laboratory, Inc., and under his management, it became the largest clinical reference laboratory in Texas, until it was sold in 1976. At that time, he returned to National Health Laboratories for two years. In 1978 he moved to Houston and built American Medical Laboratory. In the last few years of his work with clinical laboratories, Marion was a consultant for several pathology laboratories. Because of his extensive knowledge of the medical field, he became a huge support for his daughter Catherine, when in 1995 she established CRS Medical Sales, Inc., and he served on the board of her company until his death. Marion was a life-long, faithful member of the Lutheran Church. In Houston, he was a charter member of Covenant Lutheran Church and in later years a member of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church. Marion was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, and two brothers, Henry Oscar Shoenfelt and George Lincoln Shoenfelt. He is survived by his son Henry Elvin Shoenfelt II and wife Vicki and his daughter Catherine Ruth Shoenfelt. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Adam Wesley Shoenfelt and wife Kelly and Sarah Elizabeth Morrow and husband David. In addition, he is survived by three great grandchildren: Emma Grace Morrow, Andrew Wesley Shoenfelt, and Cody Wyatt Morrow; three sisters-in-law: Helen Ruth Harden, Edythe Harden, and Grace Harden; several nieces and nephews; long-time close friend Barbara Aniol, and many other friends. As a young man, Marion was a Boy Scout, later acknowledging that what he learned in scouting helped him as a soldier. He also enjoyed fishing, volleyball, baseball, and photography. With a friend, during WWII, he set up a darkroom and developed photographs for fellow-soldiers. In his later years he especially enjoyed Bible study, and he was very supportive of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the American Legion, the Military Officers Association, and a life-time member of the VFW. Marion, who was deeply loved by both family and friends, will be dearly missed and never forgotten. Family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M.to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, May 2 at Integrity Funeral Care, 3915 Dacoma, Suite E, Houston, Texas 77092. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, May 3, at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2400 Wilcrest, Houston, Texas, 77042, under the direction of Pastor James Giannantonio. Interment with military honors will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas at 1:45 P.M. on Friday, May 4. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion, the VFW, Purple Heart, Disabled Veterans, or the Wounded Warrior Project.