Obituary of Thomas Edward Marum

Thomas Edward Marum (Age 93) On February 6, 2016, in Ashburn, Virginia, as a result of complications from a fall at his home. Tom was born on June 26, 1922 in Fall River, Massachusetts, the oldest of five children born to Thomas E. Marum, Sr., a policeman, and Ruby (Porter) Marum. Tom graduated in 1939 from B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River. He received his undergraduate degree from Providence College in December of 1942, his class having accelerated its studies after the onset of World War II. He entered the United States Army in March 1943. He was a technical sergeant in the 775th Tank Battalion, Headquarters Company, serving in New Guinea and the Philippines. He was awarded the Bronze Star. After the war, he attended Boston University School of Law, graduating in 1949. He was a member of the Massachusetts Bar. In November of 1947, he met Ruth Sperry of Springfield, Massachusetts. They both described their meeting as "love at first sight." They married on August 19, 1950. Tom and Ruth had five children. Tom practiced law in Fall River before he joined the United States Department of Justice in 1961. He was in the Internal Security Division, and later the Criminal Division of the Department, before retiring in 1994. Tom lived for forty years in Fairfax, Virginia, where he was a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church. In retirement, Tom and Ruth moved to Leisure World in Lansdowne, Virginia in 2001. In 2015, they moved to Ashby Ponds, in Ashburn, Virginia. Tom is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth Sperry Marum, of Ashburn, Virginia, and four daughters: Suzanne M. Kidd (Daniel), of New Rochelle, New York; Amy E. Marum (Ronald Grogan), of Manassas, Virginia; Jane Marum Roush (David), of Fairfax, Virginia; and Elizabeth M. Ross (Van), of Springfield, Virginia. Tom is also survived by ten grandchildren and two brothers, Paul E. Marum, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and James E. Marum, of Bangkok, Thailand. His son, Thomas E. Marum, Jr., died in 1975. Tom will be remembered by his family as a strong and loving husband, father, grandfather, friend, and always a gentleman. Family will receive guests, Saturday, February 13, from 10:30a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30a.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 21370 St. Theresa Lane, Ashburn, VA. Burial will follow at Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom's name to Loudoun Interfaith Relief, 750 Miller Drive, S.E., Suite A-1, Leesburg, Virginia 22075, or Westport Land Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 3975, 830 Drift Road Westport, Massachusetts 02790