Dwight Monroe Marsh

Dwight Monroe Marsh, 92, of Sanford, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Born in Moore County, he was the son of the late Oscar Dillard Marsh and Mamie Lee Matthews Marsh. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 70 years, Alsie “Jean” Comer Marsh, and his siblings Alec Marsh, Phillip “Pete” Marsh, and Audrey Marsh McPherson.

Dwight grew up working in tobacco and taking on various odd jobs. He joined the Army in 1951, completed parachute training at Fort Bragg but chose not to jump, and later served in the Army’s entertainment department as a boxer. Stationed in Bad Nauheim, Büdingen, and Friedberg, Germany, he returned to the United States after three years, landing in the Washington, DC area. Overcome with homesickness, he took a taxi all the way back to Cameron.

On February 3, 1956, he married Jean Comer and settled in Sanford, where they raised two children, Rhonda and Tim. While working for a golf cart company, he suffered a serious auto accident in South Carolina that broke his neck, leaving him paralyzed for a time and requiring months in traction. After a long recovery, the family spent a summer in North Myrtle Beach. A former neighbor in Colorado later invited them for a visit, and they returned with a horse named Babe’s Delight. That moment sparked Dwight’s lifelong passion for horses.

He and Jean bought a farm, built a house and barn, and established Marsh Stables, where they collected horses, competed in shows, bred and raced them, offered boarding, and taught riding lessons. Their son Tim and his wife Michelle have since taken over the business. Dwight also shared his love of dirt bikes with a young Tim and taught him about horses, construction, and mechanics. Above all, he cherished telling stories and jokes, bringing laughter to everyone around him.

He is survived by his daughter, Rhonda Marsh Lee (Michael); son, Timothy Marsh (Michelle); grandchildren, Patrick Lee, Ryan Lee, and Shane Marsh; step-grandchildren, Stephanie Lane, Nicole Calise, and Lathan Lane; and one step great-grandchild, Atlas Lane.