Lloyd Paul Marsh, loving husband, devoted dad, wonderful grandpa passed away peacefully of Parkinson’s disease on Monday, May 14, 2012, in Coeur d’Alene. He was born Nov. 16, 1933, in New York, N.Y., to Emily (Coyet) and Harold Lloyd Marsh.

He attended Brooklyn Tech High School and served in the National Guard before moving to Moscow where he matriculated at the University of Idaho as an ROTC Naval Cadet. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and met his future wife Patricia, in the sorority house next door. They married right after graduation and began their military life in Pensacola, Fla., where he attended Officers Candidate School and discovered his passion for flying.

His flying career took him to Hutchison, Kan., where twins Dan and Teri were born. From there it was to Honolulu, Hawaii, where son Tom made his arrival, and then to Garden Grove, Calif., where youngest son David made his appearance.

A naval aviator for 22 years, he flew sorties during the Vietnam Conflict through two tours on the USS Hornet. Apart from “passing butterflies” during night carrier landings and other tricky aerial maneuvers, he maintained that he never experienced fear until he flew combat missions in Vietnam. He was a flight instructor at Chase field in Beeville, Texas, and went on to teach weapons systems at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis Md.

His community involvement included umpiring for the Camarillo, Calif., youth baseball leagues and coaching his two youngest sons’ football teams. Not satisfied with just one career, he left the military in 1976 and joined Northrup Corporation where he spent the next two years based on the island of Crete, Greece, managing the NATO test firing range working with our European allies.

After missing his family, he returned to the U.S. to his wife and family in Coeur d’Alene and began his first retirement. This was short lived. He entered the North Idaho College carpentry program one fall semester and soon found himself teaching chemistry and physics full time. A gifted instructor, within a few years he was promoted to Math & Science Division Chair.

He was also an avid traveler, organizing tours through Europe. He remained at NIC until finally retiring in 1998. “I don’t really have my life planned, never did,” he said. “I just took opportunities as they came.” He was active in the Coeur d’Alene branch of the American Legion; a competitive league bowler, golfer and enjoyed camping and RV life. He and Pat traveled to all three coasts (with many side adventures!) enjoying the freedom of the road with good friends, family and each other.

He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Patricia (Brown) Marsh; brother Harold (Dick) Marsh and wife Mina; sister-in-law Betty Hermens; daughter Teri (Steve) Loar; sons Danny, Tom (Lora) and David (Kim); four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Yates Funeral Home, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, followed by graveside honors at Riverview Cemetery. Reception following at Marsh residence. Please sign Lloyd’s online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.