Starkville Daily News
October 22, 2012

DECATUR, Ga. — Mr. Marvin Thomas Bond of Decatur, Ga., 82, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, after a battle with primary liver cancer.

A service of death and resurrection will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at Decatur First United Methodist Church.
A reception will follow at the church.
Southcare Cremation and Funeral Society is in charge of arrangements.

Born Jan. 17, 1930, to Benjamin Thomas and Mary Ethel Bond in Canton, he grew up in Louisiana. After graduation from high school, Marvin enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 21st (automatic weapons) Battalion, 25th infantry division during the early years of the Korean War.

Upon completion of his military obligations, he asked for, and received, a discharge and immediately began his education in the chosen field of civil engineering.

Following completion of the B.S. degree in civil engineering from Louisiana Tech University, he accepted employment with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and began graduate studies.

After completing the M.S. degree at Louisiana Tech University and a year of study at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Marvin and his wife and daughter moved to Hong Kong for five years where he worked as an educational missionary at Hong Kong Baptist College (now University) as chairman of the department of civil engineering and as director of the building program.

In addition, he served his Chinese church as liaison to a small chapel in Sai Kung, Hong Kong. Most rewarding for him was seeing young men and women have the opportunity to receive an education and go on to find responsible positions.

Back in the United States, Marvin entered the graduate program at Tulane University where he earned the Ph.D. degree. He then accepted a teaching position at Western Kentucky University.

Five years later he moved to Mississippi State University where he remained for the rest of his career. He retired as professor of environmental engineering and director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI).

Dr. Bond was active in the Mississippi Engineering Society and served one term as president. Also, he served a term as president of the National Association of Water Institute Directors. During his tenure as WRRI Director, he was appointed to two gubernatorial committees, one to develop the framework for a statewide water management plan and one for the licensing of water and waste water operators.

For a five-year period, Dr. Bond went annually to Perugia, Italy, to lecture at a water management course for participants from developing countries.

Following retirement at MSU, he and his wife returned to Hong Kong as volunteers for several years. In 2007, they moved to Decatur to be near their daughter and son-in-law.

Always active in his church, Marvin taught Sunday school classes for more than fifty years and worked on many committees. At the Starkville First United Methodist Church, he taught a Sunday Bible class, served as Lay Leader, facilitated studies in Spiritual Formation and participated in Annual Conference.

Dr. Bond leaves behind his beloved wife of 59 years, Jean Faulkner Bond, whom he married June 7, 1953; daughter, Beverly Ann Bond Stewart and son-in-law William A. Stewart of Atlanta, Ga.; granddaughter, Katherine Faulkner Stewart Box and grandson-in-law Rev. Oliver James Box of Safety Harbor, Fla.; brother, Bobbie Ray Bond of Yazoo City; aunt, Dorris Faucett of Madison; several cousins; and friends as numerous and as diverse as the sands of the seashore scattered over three continents.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Youth ASP, Decatur First United Methodist Church, 300 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030; United Methodist Children's Home, 500 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30030; or Hospice Atlanta, 1244 Park Vista Drive, Atlanta, GA 30319.