WILLIAM MARVIN RADNEY
July 11, 1928 - July 16, 2022
William Marvin Radney, age 94, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Saturday, July 16, 2022. Marvin was born on July 11, 1928, in the community of Rural Shade, Texas, to Birdie and Clyde Radney. He graduated from Milby High School in Houston and earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston. Marvin served in the United States Army, along with other chemical engineers, who affectionately called their group MACE, which stood for “misplaced army chemical engineers.” The MACEs held periodic reunions for many decades after serving. Marvin had a long and distinguished career in chemical engineering, working for Goodyear, W.R. Grace and Co., Upjohn, and Project Specialists. Later in his career, feeling the entrepreneurial itch, he founded several successful consulting engineering companies, including, Delhi Industries and National Development Resources. While Marvin had a successful business career, the highlight of his life came in 1952 when Marvin met Kathleen June Frishette, the love of his life, in Buffalo,
New York. Marvin and June were married on October 31, 1953, in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. They spent many memorable anniversaries handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. Together, they had two sons. As an avid boater, Marvin was a life member of the Galveston Bay Power Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadron, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting and teaching boating safety. He taught many courses on boating safety and served as Commander of the GBPS in 1983. Marvin was a Presbyterian, and his faith in the Lord comforted and sustained him during his final days here on earth. He was devoted to his family and supported his boys in all of their educational and professional endeavors. Marvin was also an avid collector of classic cars, with the highlight of his collection being a 1964 Maserati Mistral Spyder. Marvin was the epitome of an engineer and enjoyed taking things apart, repairing them and putting them back together. As a result, he never used mechanics or repairmen, preferring to repair everything himself, including all of his cars, his boat and the family’s appliances. Marvin and June loved to travel, taking countless family vacations to Canada (to visit June’s parents), Colorado and the Caribbean and traveling the world together, including their annual trip each fall to Canada to visit family and friends. Marvin had high standards and demanded much from himself and others, such as a strong work ethic, integrity, honesty and keeping your word, traits that he passed on to his sons and grandchildren. He also enjoyed being involved in his grandchildren’s lives, from cheering them on in all of their athletic events to watching each of them graduate from Texas A&M University. Marvin was preceded in death by his loving wife, June, of 67 years, his parents, Birdie and Clyde Radney, his sister, Jeanette Murray, and his brother, Ronald Radney. Marvin is survived by his oldest son, Mark, his wife, Cheryl, and their sons, David and Matthew; and his youngest son, Terry, his wife, Ann, and their children, Will and Katherine and her husband, Tucker.
The family was blessed by, and a special heartfelt thank you goes out to, Brigitte Snyder, who lovingly cared for Marvin and June during the last years of their lives, and Shelly English, who also provided loving care to Marvin during the last year of his life. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Waller Thornton Funeral Home, 672 FM 980, Huntsville, Texas 77320. Burial will follow at Brooke Cemetery. The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Following the service, lunch will be served. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org to help find a cure for the disease that afflicted Marvin’s beloved June or the Galveston Bay Sail & Power Squadron, 957 NASA Parkway, #140, Houston, TX 77058.