CAMDEN — Another World War II veteran is being laid to rest without a living relative to attend the service. If not for the intervention of Long Funeral Hall in Camden, the final sendoff for U.S. Navy's Ernest W. Marshall, Jr., would have been rather quiet.

On Marshall's behalf, Long Funeral Home has requested a U.S. Naval honor guard to fold the American flag and to play Taps at the 2 p.m., Friday, June 23, service. The Rev. Dr. Susan Stonestreet has agreed to officiate the graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery, where Marshall will be laid to rest next to his parents.

Members of the public are welcome to attend.

"We feel it is important to honor this man for his contribution to our country," said Julie Clement, of the funeral home.

Ensign Marshall served with the Navy from June 15, 1943 until August 23, 1946. For at least some of that time, he was a part of "Operation Crossroads," the nuclear-weapons testing near Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.

Marshall, who held a doctorate of geology and was nicknamed "Doc," attended gunnery school in Washington, D.C. and firefighter school in Norfolk, Virginia, according to his Veteran's Affairs paperwork.

From there, he worked another 15 years with the Naval Reserves, Corps of Engineers, studying formation of lake crystals and providing data for the operation of aircraft from ice covered areas primarily in Alaska.

Some of that research came from the Northern Ellesmere Ice Shelf. His research there helped define the climactic conditions of the 1954 shelf, and possibly assisted in estimating the last great warming of the arctic region, according to his report.

In 1951, Marshall listed mountaineering, cold weather living techniques, and small boat handling as his applicable skills and experiences. The latter, small boat handling, he carried with him into retirement, sailing around Megunticook Lake and Penobscot Bay.

For the past seven years, he resided at Woodlands Memory Center in Rockland, where he was well liked, according to Clement.

Official obituary

ROCKLAND.....................Ernest W. Marshall, Jr., Ph.D., 92, died on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at Woodlands Memory Center in Rockland, where he had resided for the past seven years. "Doc" was born in Laconia, New Hampshire on February 23, 1925, and was the son of Ernest W. and Julia Mae (Annis) Marshall. He received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Dartmouth College, then obtained his doctorate in geology at the University of Michigan in 1950.

Doc was a geology professor at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for many years. A published author, his works and extensive research can be found throughout the United States. His research work allowed him several opportunities to travel around the globe.

During WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 15, 1943 serving until August 23, 1946 being discharged as an Ensign. He was part of "Operation Crossroads" where nuclear weapons tests were conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946 in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Theatre. In addition, he served 15 years of federal service with the Naval Reserves for the Corps of Engineers studying formation of lake crystals providing data for operation of aircraft from ice covered areas primarily in Alaska.

Retiring to Midcoast Maine, Doc enjoyed sailing on Megunticook Lake and in Penobscot Bay.

Doc has no surviving family members. He will be laid to rest next to his parents in the Mountain View Cemetery in Camden, with U.S. Navy military honors and a graveside service officiated by the Rev. Dr. Susan Stonestreet at 2 PM, Friday, June 23, 2017.

Condolences may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. If desired, memorial gifts may be made to Woodlands Memory Center, 201 Camden Street, Rockland, ME 04841 where he received wonderful care and will be missed. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.

Sarah Thompson can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com