Marvin W. Bendy Sr., age 86, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2026. Marvin was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, firefighter, and friend whose life was defined by service, family, faith, and the many interests he pursued throughout the years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin F. Bendy and Rose Elizabeth (Schmidt) Bendy; his beloved wife of 54 years, Darlene M. Bendy (Shinn); their infant son, William H. Bendy; his sister, Gail L. Bendy (Wojciechowski); his brother, Kenneth A. Bendy; his granddaughter, Chonah D. Bendy; and his daughter-in-law, Sharon M. Bendy (Wilson).
Marvin is survived by his daughter, Darlene C. Bendy of Augusta, West Virginia; and his sons, Marvin W. Bendy Jr. of New Jersey and Gary J. Bendy of Augusta, West Virginia.
He is also survived by his grandchildren: Jennifer Smith and her husband, Tony, of Maryland; Marvin W. Bendy III; Joyce Richardson and her husband, Daniel; and Elsie R. Bendy, all of New Jersey. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, his nephew, Christopher M. Parks of New Jersey, as well as cousins and many, many friends.
As a young man, Marvin worked for the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey, where he contributed to the construction of two United States Navy vessels: the Barbel-class submarine USS Bonefish and later the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. From there, he proudly served as a career firefighter for 25 years with the Camden Fire Department, retiring as a distinguished Fire Captain. He also volunteered as a firefighter with Gloucester City, New Jersey; Winslow Township, New Jersey; and, later, North River Valley Volunteer Fire Company No. 7 in Hampshire County, West Virginia. His involvement in the fire service spanned an extraordinary 63 years, reflecting a lifelong commitment to the brotherhood serving others and his community.
Marvin also enjoyed an interest in firearms, competitive shooting, the careful craft of reloading his own ammunition, and the history and tradition of Civil War-era firearms. He was an accomplished competitive shooter who earned numerous medals and awards over the years. He was a longtime member of the North-South Skirmish Association, where he enjoyed the competition, history, camaraderie, and friendships that came with the sport for more than 35 years.
In his later years, Marvin became a familiar sight sitting on his front porch, waving to the cars, neighbors, friends, and passersby traveling past his home on Delray Road. It was a simple pleasure, but one that reflected his friendly nature and his enjoyment of the community around him.
Above all, Marvin was a man of faith. As his life came to a close, he found comfort and peace in that faith and looked forward to being reunited in Heaven with his beloved wife, Darlene, and the family and friends who had gone before him.
A funeral service will be held at Giffin Funeral Home & Crematory on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Officiating will be Pastor John Sine. Interment will follow in the Greenlane Cemetery in Delray, WV. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.