John “Jack” Noel Marston, 93, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, April 30, 2026. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather.
Jack was born in Portland, Maine and graduated from Lawrence High School in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Later in life, he earned his B.S. degree from Saint Leo College.
In 1951, he joined the United States Air Force and retired as a Senior Master Sargent after 23 years of service. During his USAF career, he met his wife, Hertha Rose Mayer, while she was working as an assistant for Jack’s parents, Noel and Dorothea Marston, who at the time were stationed in Vienna, Austria. As the love story goes, Jack, who was then stationed in Germany, took some leave to visit his parents in Vienna. As he knocked on his parent’s door, he was greeted by Hertha. Upon entering the home, Hertha kindly asked him to take off his shoes. It was love at first sight!
A Dallas Cowboy and New York Yankee fan, Jack eventually settled down in the Hampton Roads area in 1974. He and Hertha lived in Newport News, Poquoson, and for the past 20+ years they resided in Williamsburg. He worked for several financial institutions including Perpetual Savings Bank as an executive until retirement. After his 2nd retirement, he served as the Executive Director for the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank in Newport News and then as the Chairman of the Board for Shelton on the Bay in Hampton.
Jack loved spending time with his family but he also loved community service. He was a member and leader with several organizations, associations and committees to include the Hampton Clean City Commission, the Hampton Mercury Lions Club, the Knights of Columbus in Newport News, the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), the Boy Scouts of America, and the Williamsburg Board of Equalization. Since 1975, he attended Fort Eustis Memorial Church where he also served as Eucharistic Minister. Jack lived for God, his Country and Family. He will be missed by his family and friends here and in Europe.
Jack was predeceased in death by his wife, Hertha Marston. He is survived by his son, Shawn Marston; his daughter-in-law, Iveta Marston and his granddaughter, Anna Marston, all residing in Williamsburg.
Funeral Services for Jack will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Weymouth Funeral Home. Interment will take place at the Albert G. Horton , Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery located in Suffolk at a later date.
