Charlie Henry Marstaller

Charlie Henry Marstaller, 100, passed Tuesday, December 20, 2016, at a local hospital. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, December 23, at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Ron Durham, Dr. Dennis Swanberg and Dr. Benjamin Harlan officiating. Visitation will be 5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 22, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Mr. Marstaller was born on November 1, 1916, in Cego, Texas, son of Charles and Hulda Koerth Marstaller. He was founder and active partner of Marstaller Motors, Inc. He married Gertrude Kincannon on May 27, 1938, his beloved first wife of 61 years. He was then blessed to marry his second love, Virginia Cashion, on August 19, 2000, his beloved wife of 16 years. He started work in the 8th grade, when he had to quit school to help take care of his siblings. He began as a blacksmith working with horses and fixing wagon wheels for the local community. When Ford introduced the Model T, people brought their cars to him for repair as the blacksmith was the only person around that people thought could help them (there were not trained mechanics then). He went on to open White's Garage. One day, he was approached by the Hudson Manufacturing Company to sell their vehicles. With nothing but a box of tools and his integrity, he went to a local bank and received a loan to open the first Hudson dealership in Waco, Texas, and Marstaller Motors became a reality. He went on to own the Edsel, Dodge, Fiat, AMC, Jeep, Mercury and Lincoln dealerships. He was a mechanic by trade and the workingman’s friend. Charlie's second love after family was hunting and fishing. All of his amazing trophies are on display in the mechanic shop of Marstaller Motors. Some of his fondest memories were hunting in Africa with Bob Detlefsen when he was 88. The "Big Bison" in Billings, Montana, at the Marstaller Ranch and his other amazing elk he conquered with Chuck Parsons. In his late 90s, his employees devoted their days off to take Charlie fishing and hunting. Charlie enjoyed spending time with anyone outdoors...and he could fix anything, anywhere, anytime. He was amazing and taught us all so much!! He was an active member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, Central Baptist Church and Cottonwood Baptist Church. He was the deacon at Columbus Baptist Church for decades in the center aisle, built many churches on mission trips and even helped built the Prayer Room at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. When their first son passed on Christmas Day, the Marstallers made it their mission to help children in need during Christmas; and to house college students at Baylor who needed assistance. He was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Charles Marstaller, on December 25, 1944; his wife, Gertrude, on June 16, 1999; his twin sisters, Lilly Gummelt and husband, Louis, and Lydia and husband, Chris Hansen; sister, Viola Prause and husband, Charles; and brother, Florian Marstaller. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Cashion Marstaller of Waco; daughters, Pat Hanna and husband, Jeff, of China Spring and Pam Hughes and husband, Mac, of Waco; and son, Ronald Marstaller and wife, Dorothy, of Robinson. He was the treasured hero and grandfather of Culley Hughes and wife, Christie, and great granddaughter, Jillian, of Austin; Jennifer Erwin and husband, John, and great granddaughter, Josie, of Waco; Jeff Hughes and wife, Jennifer, and great grandchildren, J.C., Julia and Jetta Hughes, of China Spring; Julie Dayton and husband, Shawn, and great grandchildren, Miller and Riley, of China Spring; Joslyn and husband, Dustin, and great grandchildren, Chase and Presley, of Waco; Amanda Loper and husband, Derrick, and great grandchildren, Trey, Kamryn, Triniti and Kru, of China Spring. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Mary Cashion Smith of Waco, Barbara and Mel Thomas of Ft. Worth, and Cynthia and Mike Smith of Kerrville, Texas. Whew!! Pallbearers are Culley Hughes, Jeff Hughes, John Erwin Jr., Dustin Horn, Shawn Dayton, Bill Marstaller, Stan Ekrut and Bob Detlefsen. Honorary Pallbearers are Eddie Gummelt, Burton Lawless, Tommy McWilliams, Bob Claypool, Curtis Pogue, Vernon Hansen, Cleveland Witt, Chuck Parsons and Claude Ervin. Charlie will be fondly remembered in his white mechanics shirt and blue dickies. He lived his life based on the principles of the Bible. Wherever he was, he always asked people, with a twinkle in his eye and contagious smile, "How did you get to work today?" Always trying to sell a car!! They don’t make them like Charlie Marstaller anymore! Memorials may be made to Columbus Avenue Baptist Church Youth Missions Work. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.