Marvin Harrison, 96, of Midland, passed away Thursday, December 6, 2012. Marvin was born on the family farm, May 15, 1916 in Otto, Texas, a town named for his grandfather. He was the middle child between James and Ruby Jean.He went to a one-room schoolhouse up until the 8th grade, when he and his brother went to high school in Waco, Texas. He was a graduate in the class of 1934. After high school, Marvin became a mechanic working at the Ford dealership and the Oldsmobile dealership. He later moved up to being manager in the parts department.He and his uncles were deer hunting in Three Rivers, Texas when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Upon hearing this, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He shipped out at midnight December 24 headed for basic training at Camp Walters, Texas. From there he went to A&E School at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. After graduation, he went through various schools and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. An opportunity arose for Marvin, while he was in Georgia he was able to get into the cadet program. He received his pilots wings on December 23, 1944. He then went on to fly B-24, B-25, and B-29 bombers. He remained in the Army Air Forces until February 1946, where he was honorably discharged at Fort Douglas, Utah.Marvin returned to Waco where he worked at the Ford dealership until November 1947, at which time he went to see his uncle Butch Boyd in Jal, New Mexico. He interviewed for a job while there with El Paso Natural Gas. He was hired and spent 35 years as their employee.During that time he would spend time between Jal, McLean, Texas and Midkiff, Texas. This is when he met Mary Edith Clements. They married on March 24, 1951 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. They resided in Jal. Eight years later, while living in Midkiff, their only child, Martin Neal, was born.Marvin retired from El Paso Natural Gas in 1983 in Midland, Texas. He had a gas consulting business and worked in his shop. He was very active with the El Paso retirees coffee group until he fell ill in the summer of 2010. He spent the remainder of his life in Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home in Big Spring, Texas.He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Mary; son, Martin Neal and wife Teresa; grandson, Zachary Neal and wife Mallory; step grandchildren, Amber (Bobby) Buck of Midland, and Joe (Critter) Brooks and wife Candace; great grandchildren, Austin, Gavin, Victoria, Colton, and Cutter.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, December 8, 2012 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel in Midland with Rev. Kathryn Boren, officiating.The family would like to thank Marvins caregiver Andrea Laing, and the D wing staff at Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to ones favorite charity.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
