Marvin Martin Polson

Marvin was born March 22, 1925, in Wichita, Kansas, the third of five children born to Burtis and Esther Lang Polson. Marvin passed from this life at his home on June 19, 2017, at the age of 92. A private family celebration of his life is planned. Interment will be in a companion grave with his late wife Frances Wright Polson in Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Frances’ parents are buried nearby in this same cemetery.

Marvin grew up on a wheat farm three miles from Dacoma, OK. He attended grade school at Red Bird School, a one-room schoolhouse about a quarter mile from home. In high school he played basketball and was a Boy Scout. He graduated from Dacoma High School as valedictorian of the class of 1943.

Right out of high school, Marvin entered the United States Navy during World War II. He served as a Radarman on Iwo Jima. While in naval training, he met Frances Wright at the Presbyterian Church she attended in her hometown of San Pedro, California.

After the war he and Fran were married at the Wee Kirk o’ the Heather Church in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, on September 7, 1946. They moved to Oklahoma and made their first home in Stillwater while attending college. Eight children were born to this union. Two daughters died at birth. They were married for 60 years until her death in April 2007.

Marvin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from Oklahoma A & M College in Stillwater, now OSU. He then attended Bonebrake Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He was ordained in the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church in June 1954. Marvin pastored three EUB churches in Oklahoma and one in TX prior to the 1968 merger of the EUB and Methodist denominations. Together they formed the United Methodist denomination. After the merger he served 13 Oklahoma United Methodist churches. During these years he also studied sign language and traveled across the state ministering to the deaf. Marvin retired at the age of 70 after 43 years in the ministry.

Marvin co-authored a history book of the EUB Church in Oklahoma and Texas. He served as a Boy Scout Master in Stillwater and Dacoma when his children were young. He was a loyal sports fan of his children, grandchildren and local teams. During retirement, he enjoyed being a member of the Perkins Lions Club, singing at the Perkins Senior Center, and taking care of his yard.

On November 3, 2013, Marvin married Bettie Church. They lived in Perkins until her death on May 13, 2017.

Marvin was preceded in death by Frances his wife of 60 years, Bettie his wife of three years, brother Bruce Polson, sisters Lois Doud and Avonna Polson, infant daughter Marsha Marie Polson, one un-named infant daughter, and grandson Thad Isenhower.

Survivors include one sister: Maude Ruth and husband Donald Watson of Anoka, MN; 2 sons: Skip and wife Sandy Polson of Durham, NC; Pete and wife Brenda Polson of Prairie Grove, AR; four daughters: Sunny and husband Vaden Isenhower of Macomb, OK; Lori and husband Rex Cornelsen of Norman, OK; Jan Polson of Oklahoma City, OK; Hope and husband Rusty Robertson of Goodland, OK; 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 3 nieces, 4 nephews, and many friends.

Marvin’s favorite charity was The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) in Oklahoma City. They retrain and help find employment for former inmates. For more information, please see www.teem.org.