Marvin Pierce Schelhouse, honorable Milford icon
Marvin P. Schelhouse, 84, sadly passed away Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, at Delaware Veterans Home in Milford.
He was born in Milford to the late Charles V. Schelhouse and Virginia Hobbs Otwell, stepfather James Otwell, and guardians Horace and Bessie Lindale.
Marvin was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who also gave over 50 years of loyal service to his country, state, St. John's Catholic Church and his hometown community. He enjoyed spending time with family, relatives and friends. He cherished going to Rehoboth with his loving wife, sitting on the boardwalk, and watching Milford High football games with Rita on the Milford Buccaneer pirate ship. In his last few years, he enjoyed going to Chick-fil-A and being pampered by the staff.
After graduating from Milford High School in 1955, he followed his dream since he was 4 years old of becoming a Marine, joining the Marine Corps in 1956. While stationed in Philadelphia, Pa., he met the love of his life, Rita Ludwick of Perryopolis, Pa. After they married Feb. 11, 1961, they started a family and were stationed in New Jersey and Virginia, finally settling in Milford after he retired from the Marine Corps in 1976.
While serving, he had a variety of infantry assignments: training/instruction components, recruiting, reserve forces, and staff assignments from company, battalion and division levels to the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington. He landed in Lebanon in 1958 with a Marine infantry battalion to defend the sovereignty of that country from a Syrian invasion threat. Before the Vietnam War, he was trained in counter/insurgency operations and guerrilla warfare in the U.S., the jungles of Panama, and the Far East. He served during one of the most turbulent times in the history of our country, the Vietnam War (1965-75), preparing Marines for combat, assigning some to duty in Vietnam and casualty notification officers to inform next of kin about loved ones killed in action. While his infantry battalion was in combat against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, he performed duties as gunnery sergeant, first sergeant, adjutant and admin chief, and was decorated for his service. He was also honored to have been entrusted with the colors of his unit, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, to return these colors from Vietnam to Camp Pendleton, Calif., in late 1970. In all those years, those colors have never been tarnished and were served by some of the finest young men this country has ever known. His last tour in the Marines was at Marine Corps Headquarters, 1971-76, an assignment earned due to his outstanding record, performance and professionalism. While there, he was assigned 10,000 Marines to administer their assignment, career development, classification and training, and was administrative chief for the Marine Corps education and training branch. He was formally honored by Headquarters Marine Corps for his exceptional performance as a Marine Contingent member for President Richard M. Nixon’s inauguration. Marvin also shared his birthday, Nov. 10, with the USMC and his lovely daughter, Debbie.
After retiring from the Marine Corps in 1976, he moved with his family to Milford and worked for the Delaware Department of Labor for over 20 years, in charge of service programs such as C.E.T.A., veterans employment and training, and the Disabled Veterans program. He also directed Job Corps, a residential-vocational training program for disadvantaged youth ages 16-21. Marvin received Delaware Senate and House tributes for his Labor Dept. service.
Marvin was very active in the Milford School District, serving on the board of education for over 30 years and as president multiple times. He was involved in placing a State of Delaware marker at Milford Middle School to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the integration of Milford High School there in 1954. Marvin was honored for his school board work with a Jefferson Award for Community Service, and Delaware House and Senate tributes for outstanding service to public education. Marvin poured his heart and soul into the conversion of an old wooden boat into an 18th century Buccaneer pirate ship to heighten Milford school spirit, both academically and athletically. During every home high school football game, he fired the cannon when the team scored a touchdown.
He served as Milford Historical Society president for many years and played vital roles in the restoration of the Parson Thorne Mansion, and as a Milford Museum commissioner in charge of exhibits on the Vietnam War, the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Civil War.
For over 50 years, Marvin studied the life and military career of U.S. Army Gen. Alfred T.A. Torbert, one of Delaware's most notable sons. He edited the only book written about the general, "A.T.A. Torbert, Southern Gentleman in Union Blue,” by Nancy Slade. Marvin founded and was the first commander of the Gen. Torbert Camp of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. He led restoration efforts for the Milford Union Cemetery where 12 Civil War soldiers and one from the Spanish-American War are buried. In 1969, Marvin could not save Gen. Torbert's house in Milford from destruction, but he worked to save and preserve other Milford historical properties. He also spearheaded the effort to have a statue of Gen. Torbert erected on the Milford Museum grounds. Marvin served on the Civil War Society that established the Delaware Memorial/Monument at Gettysburg National Military Park to commemorate the service of Delawareans who fought at the battle of Gettysburg.
Marvin was an honorable and distinguished icon of Milford who will truly be missed by all.
In addition to his parents and guardians, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife Rita. He is survived by his loving children: his son Thomas Schelhouse of Lauderdale by the Sea, Fla.; his daughter Deborah Annand and son-in-law Christopher of Milford; his daughter Jennifer Mills and son-in-law Jamie of Milford; granddaughter Lauren Schelhouse of Coral Springs, Fla.; grandson Jonathan Annand and wife Jane of Easton, Md.; granddaughter Jessica Comstock and husband Kyle of Milford; and granddaughter Emilee Mills of Milford; three great-grandchildren, Cameron and Jaxon Lastella of Florida, and Shiloh Annand of Easton; a sister, Janet Wells and brother-in-law William of Harrington; many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends and admirers.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 16, at St. John's Parish Hall, 506 Seabury Ave., Milford. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, at Briggs Stadium, Milford.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Milford School District, 906 Lakeview Ave., Milford, DE 19963, for maintenance of Briggs Stadium and continued restoration of the Buccaneer pirate ship, or to Milford Museum for upcoming projects.
Arrangements by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford.
Letters of condolence may be shared with the family at loflandandmcknatt.com.
