Marvin Franklin Tumblin, Jr.

AIKEN, SC - Marvin Franklin Tumblin Jr. of Aiken, S.C. passed away peacefully surrounded by family Thursday, April 21, 2016 in Mount Pleasant, S.C. Born April 23, 1926 in Laurens, SC, the oldest of 8 children of Janie Cox and Marvin Franklin Tumblin, Sr. He grew up in the Laurens and Greenville, SC area. In 1944 he enlisted in the US Army to serve our country as an infantryman and paratrooper during WWII. After being wounded & losing a leg in Germany, his return to the US involved a year of rehab to learn how to walk again. To Marvin, obstacles simply provided an opportunity to rise above, overcome, and move on…. which he demonstrated time and again throughout his life. In 1950 Marvin married Elizabeth Shockley, the love of his life for 63 years. Shortly thereafter they moved to Aiken where they made their home and raised their family together. For 41 years, Marvin was a welder, pipefitter, and foreman in Central Shops for Savannah River Construction. Marvin’s life-long passion for motorcycles fueled decades of involvement in competitive amateur racing throughout the southeast. He co-found Aiken Motorcycle Sales and Service in the mid 1960’s. He loved sharing his passion for motorcycles with others and became a friend, mentor, and disciplined taskmaster to many generations of youth who grew up at Aiken Motorcycle. Marvin was a respectable, selfless, loyal, hard-working, generous, fun-loving, and beloved man of God with high standards and sound moral character. His faith was nurtured by his involvement in his church activities and fellowship with other men of faith. He was loved by many, most especially his wife, daughters and family. Marvin is survived by his three daughters, Martha Elizabeth Tumblin (Bruce White) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Frances Tumblin Bodie (John) of Lake Murray, SC, and Marsha Tumblin Hopkins of Aiken, SC; four grandchildren, Bradlee David Dennis (Ashley), Courie Jonathan Dennis (Aimee), Joseph Franklin Dennis of Aiken, and Sarah Elizabeth White of Mt. Pleasant; six great grandchildren, Reese, Hunter, Mason, Hanna, Michael, and Dax, of Aiken; and sister Margaret Tumblin McNeely, Easley, SC. He was also blessed with a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles who were a source of joy throughout his life. Marvin was preceded in death by his loving wife and parents; brothers, Lloyd Tumblin, Ted Tumblin, and Ned Tumblin; sisters, Clayton Tumblin Reid, Lonnie Tumblin Morvan, Jane Tumblin Green; nephew, Jimmy Tumblin; niece, Ann Tumblin Rhodes, and dear family friends, Frances and Jim Evans. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, April 24th at Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home from 2:00 to 4:00pm. A service celebrating Marvin’s life will be held Monday morning, April 25th at 10:00 at New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Aiken. Graveside services will follow at 3:00 PM in Greenville Memorial Gardens, Greenville, SC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Marvin’s name be made to the Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County, PO Box 1763 Aiken, SC 29802 or the Salvation Army of Aiken, 604 Park Ave, NE, Aiken, SC 29801. SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marvin Franklin Tumblin, Jr., please visit our flower store.