Marvin Reifsnyder of Rockland dies at age 104

Marvin Reifsnyder presented with a picture of him and Lee Greenwood which was taken at the 2018 Warren County Fair. Photo courtesy of Warren County Fair facebook page.

Marvin Reifsnyder, a 34-year-resident of Rockland and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, died Thursday, February 21, at Hidden Springs Senior Living, aged 104.

UPDATE – NEW LOCATION: On March 2nd, visitation will be at the Maddox Funeral Home from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm and then a memorial service to be held at the Front Royal United Methodist Church at  1 W Main St, Front Royal at 2:30 p.m. The church is right next to Maddox Funeral Home.

“Uncle Marvin”, who some called him (behind his back), was born December 10, 1914, the year World War I, the “war to end all wars”, broke out. Some 27 years later, he was serving aboard a destroyer in the Pacific during World War II. His ship was anchored off the island of Iwo Jima the day in 1945 when the Japanese surrendered. He later worked for the Department of the Army at the Pentagon for almost 50 years.

A native of Pennsylvania, Reifsnyder moved to a house on Rockland Road with his wife in 1986. She died 20 years later after 69 years of marriage. Husband Marvin stayed on, however, until a year ago when he moved to Hidden Springs. While living in Rockland, well into his 90s, our centenarian frequented the Elks Lodge and the American Legion where, despite diminishing eyesight, he played poker and pool well past his 100th birthday.

“I’m having trouble sometimes, seeing the ball, but I still enjoy the game,” he once said of his pool playing pastime.

Reifsnyder also is well remembered at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club where he played the course until age 95. For the next few years, he continued as a familiar figure on the golf course, taking daily walks across the greens.

He is survived by a son, Alan, late of Florida and now a resident of Fairfax, VA.