Marion Alexander Todd, Jr.

Asheville – Marion Alexander Todd, Jr., 80, died Wednesday, April 6, 2011. Marion was born March 20, 1931 in Charleston, SC and was the son of the late Marion Alexander and Thelma Hood Todd. He was Commander of Corps Cadets, Porter Military Academy in Charleston and received a congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He served in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot in the 86th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (flying F-86 and F-100's) and retired from the United States Air Force Reserve as Lieutenant Colonel. He was the Founder and First Commodore of the Asheville Sailing Club, an avid homebuilder of experimental aircraft and served as president of the Experimental Aircraft Association. He served as member, Ruling Elder and chairman of missions committees at Arden Presbyterian Church and Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church and served as Sunday School Superintendent at Arden Presbyterian Church. Marion is survived by his wife of 58 years, Gertrude Frampton Todd; four children, Ann Todd Redler of New Jersey, Marion Alexander Todd, III and his wife, Frances, of Wilmington, NC, Elizabeth Todd Gwennap and her husband, Tim, of Arden and David Frampton Todd and his wife, Sheri, of Fletcher. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren, Erika and Jermell Barringer, Todd and Jennifer Gwennap, Daniel and Jessie Todd, Timothy and Anna Gwennap, Brittany Redler, Julie Redler, Jordan Swinton, Joshua Todd, Gracie Todd, Brandi Griffin and Erica Griffin; and four great grandchildren, Jack Gwennap, Madisen Barringer, Audrey Gwennap and Graysen Barringer. Thanks to family and friends for your support and encouragement. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 Saturday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian conducted by the Reverends Doug Tilley, Ken Crabb and Todd Gwennap. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Malvern Hill Presbyterian Church, 2 Bear Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28806 or to one's favorite charity.