Clyde Leslie (Les) Marshall died Oct. 27, 2009, at age 89.

Graveside services are Nov. 1 at 2:30 p.m. at Concord Community Center near Zavala in Angelina County. Visitation is Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m. at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel in Georgetown.

Mr. Marshall was born May 25, 1920, in Jasper, the son of Martin Delaney and Sadie Clyde Graham Marshall.

He attended schools in Angelina County and graduated from Zavalla High School in 1938.

Mr. Marshall worked in various auto machine shops in Beaumont and Corpus Christi until 1942 when he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps cadet program to become an aviator. He was a member of the 43E class and graduated as a pilot and second lieutenant in May 1943 in Eagle Pass.

He was retained as an instructor at Eagle Pass until 1944 when he was transferred to P-47 training at Ft. Myers, Fla. From there, he transferred to England to the 9th Air Force, 373rd Fighter Bomber Group, 411th Squadron.

After D-Day, the group followed Patton across France and into Belgium and supported the Battle of the Bulge. Mr. Marshall flew 80 missions in the P-47 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 16 clusters and the EAME Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars.

He attained the rank of captain and served as squadron operations officer until his transfer from Europe. After his separation from active duty, he served in reserve units for several years.

After World War II, Mr. Marshall returned to Corpus Christi and kept flying. He obtained a commercial license with instructor, multi-engine, instrument and sea plane ratings. He also worked as a crop duster pilot.

In December 1947, he married Virginia Ruth Nose, and they lived in Corpus Christi until March 1984.

Mr. Marshall was employed in 1948 by Pontiac Refining Co. as a pilot of company planes, and also assigned to the octane laboratory. He remained at the refinery through many name changes and retired after 35 years from Champlin Refining Co. as supervisor of the octane laboratory.

While working for the refinery, Mr. Marshall also was a pipeline patroller for F.C. Barr for 19 years.

When he retired, he moved to a ranch in Lampasas County where he built his own landing strip and bought a J3 Cub, which he flew until 1990 when he bought a PA22 (Tri-Pacer). He spent 15 years as a Lampasas County rancher before moving to Cross Country Estates near Georgetown, where he continued to fly off the airstrip there. He was an active pilot until his death.

He was a life member of the P47 Pilots Association and 43E Association and was a member of the Quiet Birdmen Association. He was a Presbyterian and a charter member of Jackson Woods Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi where he was an elder and trustee. He also was an elder of First Presbyterian Church in Lampasas.

Survivors are his wife; a son, Marc and wife, Sheri of Austin; granddaughters, Jillian and Sara of Austin; and a sister, Ima Louise Stewart of Corinth, Miss.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Elzie Martin, and a sister, Ruby Marshall Butler.