Obituary of Dr. William Hartwell Marable of Lunenburg County Virginia
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An obituary appearing in the Chase City Progress, probably December 1932:
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                    BELOVED PHYSICIAN PASSES

     The entire community was saddened on Monday, December 5, by the passing of Dr. William
Hartwell Marable, one of the most popular physicians of Lunenburg.  Although he retired from an
active practice several years ago on account of declining health, he strove manfully to the end
overcoming physical infirmities with an indomitable will.  The end came unexpectedly resulting
from heart failure.
     Dr. Marable was known for his strong convictions, sincerity of  purpose, delicate sentiments,
and sympathetic nature.  As long as his health permitted, he always responded to a professional
call regardless of remuneration.  His greatest joy was to make other  people happy.  Despite the
fact that he was reared in the Victorian Age, he was always a progressive thinker, readily
adjusting himself to the changing social and economic conditions of the  modern era.  In point of
view he remained a young man eschewing unworthy conventionalities and false standards.
   He always took a great interest in religious activities, having joined Cool Spring Church in early
life.  He loved the ministers of the Gospel, and took great delight in having them as his guests.
     Dr. Marable belonged to an old Colonial family, many members of which were active in civic
affairs before the Revolution.  Among his direct ancestors and collateral forbears were: George
Marable, a member of the King's Council at Jamestown; Edward and Matthew Marable, member
of the House of Burgesses; Colonel Henry Hartwell, writer and statesman, intimate friend of
Commissary James Bair, founder of the College of William and Mary.   Colonel Hartwell was a
member of the first Board of Visitors of this institution.  Dr. Marable's father was the late Joseph
Edward Marable, M.D., and his mother was before her marriage Mary Elizabeth Purcell.  The
Purcells originally settled along the James River; they have always been prominent people also. 
Dr. Marable leaves a wife nee Anna Irvine of Bedford County and one son, William Irvine
Marable, member of the faculty of Bluefield College, W. Va. 
     A simple but impressive service was held at the grave in old Mount Zion Churchyard.  What
could have been more appropriate than for his final resting place to have been at Mount Zion, the
church which he attended as a little boy, around which clustered many memories of his youth
which he held dear!  Rev. Myles Austin of Victoria and Rev. H. T. Williams officiated.  The large
crowd composed of many colored persons as well as the white people evidenced how deeply he
was enshrined in the hearts of all.
     He is gone but his spirit is with us.
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This obituary probably was December 1932.  The back side of the newspaper clipping shows
under "Old Dominion News..."-- an item referring to Virginia's criminal costs "between now and
Ju...30, 1933, the end of the fiscal year."
  The Dr. Marable home is, in 1997, owned by Pop Bailey.  It is located in Lunenburg Co., VA on
an unpaved road between Mount Zion Church and an intersection called, Five Forks -- J.G.
Spears, 1997
   

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by JoLee Spears   spearsj@mail.rdu.bellsouth.net

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