Timothy John Marsh

Tim Marsh was a writer, photographer and active community volunteer. Tim died at age 77, Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Willamette Valley Hospital after a short battle with T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia. Tim was born Feb. 19, 1948, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Rapid City, S.D. He was the son of Dr. Robert Earley Marsh, a U.S. Veterans Administration dentist, and Marjorie Emily (East) Marsh, an artist and seamstress.

Tim lived at Fort Meade, S.D., and in Minot, N.D., and grew up in Lakewood (Pierce County), near Tacoma. Educated K-12 in the Clover Park School District in Lakewood, he graduated in 1966 from Lakes High School as a member of the school’s third graduating class. He and another student co-wrote words to the school’s alma mater.

After earning a bachelor of arts journalism degree from Linfield College (now University), McMinnville, Ore., in 1970, Tim held a variety of roles doing something he loved which was help tell the news. He worked on Oregon daily newspapers in Salem (Oregon Statesman), La Grande (The Observer) and Albany (Democrat-Herald). During his newspaper career, he served as reporter, photographer, sports editor and news editor. He was news service director and sports information director at Whitman College, Walla Walla. In Oregon, he was assistant media relations officer for the Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; assistant press secretary for Oregon Gov. Victor Atiyeh, Salem, and communications director of the Oregon State System of Higher Education, Eugene, Ore.

The majority of Tim’s career was at Washington State University in Pullman. From Dec. 1, 1985 to May 2011, he worked in university relations (writing, photography). During that time from 1985-2000, he was speech writer for Samuel H. Smith, WSU president. This was Tim’s favorite job.

Tim and Diane Mary Richardson were married April 8, 1978, at Garden Home, Ore., United Methodist Church. In 1984, their daughter, Emily Mae, was born in South Korea. They adopted her that year through Holt International in Eugene.