MARVIN BLUMENTRITT

Marvin "M. V." Blumentritt, 87, of San Angelo, passed away on Friday, August 5, at San Angelo Community Hospital following a brief illness. Visitation will be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, August 7, and then 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday, August 8, at Robert Massie Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 8 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Robert Budewig and Pastor Chester McCown of Trinity Lutheran Church, officiating. Graveside service, military honors, and burial will follow at Lawnhaven Cemetery. Marvin was born at Sweet Home, Texas, to Fritz and Augusta Pfluger Blumentritt on May 10, 1918. Following his mother's death on December 9, 1918 he was reared by various relatives. He subsequently graduated from Iraan High School in 1937 and attended North Texas State Teachers' College. Years later, he often recounted, "Teachers were starving to death back then, so I looked for another line of work." He consequently attended Business College in San Antonio and charted a course to the world of commerce and trade. However, the outbreak of World War II delayed his plans. During the war, he served with the Army Air Corps at Goodfellow Field as a clerk and German language speaker. One of his jobs during the war was to monitor conversations in Texas German communities for potential insurgencies or infiltration operations. After the war, he remained in San Angelo to pursue his business career. For the next sixty years, he served as a prominent businessman and civic leader in San Angelo. Armed with a generous spirit and desire to help those less fortunate, he became a pioneer in the Texas mobile home industry and made home ownership affordable to thousands. He also served as a realtor and developer in San Angelo, and acquired and sold landmark properties including both the old San Angelo National Bank and the Guaranty State Bank buildings on Twohig and Chadbourne. Moreover, he was involved in agriculture and agribusiness raising crops and livestock. Although he frequently advertised that he would "trade for anything that doesn't eat", he rarely followed his own policy. Finally, from the 1950's through the 1970's, thousands of people in San Angelo awoke to "Starvin' Marvin" on the radio, by which he hosted an infomercial consisting of humor, political viewpoints, advertisements, polka music, and guests such as sons David and John and their friends. Marvin leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Mrs. Prestine Davis Blumentritt of San Angelo. He is also survived by David Blumentritt, his wife Karen, and grandchildren Carla and Jared of Friendswood, Texas, and USAF Lt. Col. John W. Blumentritt, his wife Darlene, and grandchildren Chris, Sonja, and Ashley of Schertz, Texas. He is preceded in death by parents Fritz and Augusta Blumentritt, brothers Lewis, Sam, Fred, and Edgar, and sisters Rosa, Gertrude, Augusta, and Lenora. Brother George Blumentritt resides in Odessa. Pallbearers will be James Blumentritt, Joe Blumentritt, Russell Blumentritt, Charles Blumentritt, Dale Wilde, and David Behrend. Marvin Blumentritt will be remembered as rising from the hardships of his youth to an educated man, patriotic veteran, successful businessman, civic leader, and loving husband, father, and grandfather.