Marvin E. VanDuzer

Marvin Edward VanDuzer

Sometimes in life you’re lucky enough to meet someone, maybe even just casually, and even so, you know you’ll remember them for a lifetime.  Marv VanDuzer was one of those people. It was in the eyes. Marv made eye contact when he spoke to you…he connected with you.

Named for both of his grandfathers, Marvin Edward VanDuzer drew his first breath as a special gift on Father’s Day, June 18th, 1950. Young Marv arrived as the second of three sons born to Ray and Phyllis VanDuzer, the others being Phillip and Daniel.

Always a dedicated sports fan, Marv grew into a three-sport athlete for the Sayre Redskins, shining in football, baseball and as a member of the diving team, graduating in 1968.

It was his aquatic connection that provided one of his life’s most interesting achievements, as–at age 16– he paddled the entire length of the Susquehanna River as support crew for the Redskins’ swimming coach, Russell Chaffey, who swam the river from Cooperstown to the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of ‘66. As their adventure took them through the town of Wyoming, PA, news of their effort ran ahead of them and a crowd turned out to watch their progress. Among that crowd in Wyoming was a 13-year-old girl named Barbara. One telling of that story, the most popular telling, says the teenaged girl was smitten by the canoer, claiming she would marry him one day.

Well, because life is sometimes more interesting than fiction, she did.

Barb and Marvin celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last summer, surrounded by friends and family, including their son Eric and his wife, Alicia…or as Marv called her, “my Angel.”

Marv’s penchant for sports carried on through his life, including years of softball in the White’s Arco uniform here in the Valley. He also discovered golf at an early age and managed to play in the BC Open golf tournament Pro-Am with PGA Pro, Calvin Peete in 1978.

Naturally a membership at Shepherd Hills Country Club came into play, and Marv played as often as his life would allow.

A 30-year career at Guthrie Health Systems interrupted his golf game, but retirement in 2011 corrected that.

Marv and Barb and a circle of like-minded friends: Michelle and Ange Sisto, Dawn and Wayne Volpe, Keith and Carman Correlle, and Bob and Ann Horton, vacationed together once or twice a year where ocean beaches and golf courses combined for the good times. For many years the gang conducted a Thursday Night dinner date night, gathering at well-known area restaurants.

Marv’s passing on February 23rd leaves an empty chair, but also hearts filled with love and memories of a good man, the last of the three siblings, all of whom have now joined their mother and father in eternity.

Surviving are Marv’s wife of 50 years, Barb, their son and daughter in law, Eric Marvin and Alicia, several nieces and nephews, including two great nieces who were very dear to his heart, Macy and Sophia.

Football’s Dallas Cowboys and Baseball’s New York Yankees will have one fewer fan cheering them on in their respective upcoming seasons.

The family gives special thanks to the loving support shown throughout Marv’s illness by Jim and Jane Jeffrey, and they ask that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to express their condolences make donations to either the Animal Care Sanctuary, or to Guthrie Hospice.

Family and friends may call at the Lowery-Urban Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 225 S. Main Street, Athens, PA from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, on Thursday, February 27, 2025.  Funeral services will be private at the request of the family.

Those wishing may leave on-line condolences by visiting www.loweryfuneralhome.com

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