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Marvin Christian

American, 1935 - 2024

BiographyMarvin Dale Christian, age 89 of Dayton, Ohio was born August 10, 1935. Marvin had a life-long career as a Commercial Photographer, historian and aviation enthusiast. He married and is survived by his wife of 64 years Irmgard of Wiesbaden, Germany. They have a wonderful family including son Mark and his wife Cynthia Billup Christian, Karen Christian, Kathy and her husband Robert Creager, Vicki and her husband Bill Lesser. Marvin is also survived by his brother James Christian and family, and sister-in-law Inge Kauwetter and family in Germany. Surviving grandchildren include Alaina and her husband Jake Riddell, Grace Christian, Spencer Christian, Kristina, Stefan and Samantha Creager. Also included are his extended German families of Manfreid and Ute Enghog and Thomas and Jackie Enghof.

A 1953 graduate of Dayton’s Fairview-White High School, he studied photography in New York City and served in the United States Air Force. He created his own commercial photography studio after several years in the NCR Photographic department. Marvin worked for the famous photographer William Preston Mayfield and eventually purchased his studio along with his collection of over 100,000 historical photographic images. Years later, after publishing numerous calendars and photographic books, the collection now resides with Dayton History at Carillon Park. He was a ATA Life Member and official photographer for the Amateur Trapshooting Association’s Grand American Trapshooting Tournament in Vandalia for 40 years. That image collection is now in the ATA Trapshooting Hall of Fame Museum.

Marvin, a Life Member, has served as President of Aviation Trail, Inc. from 2004 to 2020. He is a past president of the Dayton Advertising Club (AAF Dayton) and is the recipient of the American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award for Lifetime Achievement. He has been a commercial photographer for 60 plus years, a photo editor for six local history books, and as a Distinguished Moderator has presented UDOLLI seminars on Dayton History, Photography and Photographers, Alfred Hitchcock Films and Circus History. In 2021 Marvin published a photographic monograph, CIRCUS ALBUM -A scrapbook of memories, containing his images of life and activities in the Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus, over fifty years ago. A private graveside service will be held at the Abbottsville Cemetery in Arcanum, Ohio. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Aviation Trail Inc. P.O. Box 633, Wright Brothers Station, Dayton OH 45449. Arrangement entrusted to Baker-Hazel & Snider Funeral Home & Crematory.

https://www.bakerhazelsnider.com/obituaries/Marvin-Dale-Christian?obId=33088675

Person TypeIndividual