Frederick Arthur Marles

Frederick Arthur Marles,79, a lifelong resident of Perkasie, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, June 3, at Grand View Hospital, West Rockhill Township. He was the beloved husband of Shirley (Allebach) Marles, his high school sweetheart. They were married 56 years.

Born in West Rockhill Township, he was the son of the late Arthur Marles, originally of Melksham, Great Britain, and the late Emma (Leister) Marles, of Perkasie.

Mr. Marles was a 1946 graduate of Sell-Perk High School, where he was captain of the football team. An avid football player, he later played for the Greenjackets football club. He had played American Legion baseball and also for the Sell-Perk Redbirds baseball team. He earned a degree from Muhlenberg College, Allentown in 1950. During college, he had played the saxophone in Senator Edward Holl’s Big Band in the North Penn area.

He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1951, during the Korean War, and served stateside as a counter intelligence agent, attaining the rank of corporal.

Mr. Marles was employed by the former First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Lansdale in 1954. He rose to the position of president of its successor, First Family Savings and Loan, Lansdale, retiring in 1986.

He served as president of the Montgomery County Savings and Loan League and was selected by his peers to fulfill an unexpired term and then two full terms on the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, Pittsburgh.

Mr. Marles was elected to the National Savings and Loan Advisory Board, Washington D.C. He also served on the board and executive committee of the Pennsylvania Savings and Loan League, Harrisburg, its tax reform committee, and as chairman of its Legislative Affairs committee, representing both savings and loans and mutual savings banks. He was also an active member of the industry’s national legislative committee.

A life member of the American Legion Post 234, Souderton, Fred also served as treasurer of the following organizations: North Penn Chamber of Commerce, from whom he received the Distinguished Service Award in 1973, the North Penn United Way, the Pennsylvania United Way Board, and the North Penn Water Authority.

He also served on the Board of Directors of Grand View Hospital and the Community Services of Pennsylvania. A member of the Kiwanis Club, Lansdale, he served a term as president.

Mr. Marles served on the boards of the Lutheran Community at Telford and Paul’s Run Retirement Home, Philadelphia, for which he secured financing, and he was a consultant to various other retirement communities.

He was a member of the board of the Lutheran Historical Society, Mount Airy and the Perkasie Historical Society.

A lifelong member of St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Perkasie, he served several terms on the Church Council; as Sunday School Superintendent, and had taught Senior High Sunday School and the Augsburg Adult Sunday School Classes and had sung in the choir. He was the only member to have been part of both Building Committees responsible for the construction of the original new church in 1957 and for its recent expansion with a new Fellowship Hall. Fred’s Church life was very important to him, and he enjoyed being a Youth Mentor as a part of his commitment to his Lord.

Fred was an accomplished hobbyist, enjoying cabinetry and other woodworking, and vegetable gardening. He enjoyed sharing the fruits of his labor with others. He played the saxophone in his youth and had a lifelong love of jazz. A history buff, he loved reading history books and debating politics. A sports enthusiast, he loved competition, playing basketball with his family and tennis with his friends until his last year of life.

His family was of the most importance to him. Fred looked forward to his annual vacation to Wildwood Crest, NJ, where his entire family gathered every year.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons: Blake Marles and his wife, Marilyn, Macungie; Blaine Marles, and his wife, Brenda, Perkasie; and Mark Marles and his wife, Amy, Buckingham; grandchildren: Lindsay, Atlanta, GA; Adam, and his wife, Karen, Drexel Hill; Kira and Andrew, Perkasie; Steven and Justin, Buckingham; a great-grandson, Emerson, Drexel Hill; and many nieces and nephews. All loved him dearly, and his passing is deeply felt.

His Funeral Service will be held Friday, June 6, at 11:00 AM in St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dill Avenue and Chestnut Street, Perkasie. Family and friends may call Friday morning at the Church, beginning at 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Interment will be in St. Andrew’s Union Cemetery, Perkasie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Building & Renovation Fund of St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, PO Box 257, Perkasie, PA 18944.