Marshall Keith Hiner

Marshall Keith Hiner was a master storyteller.  His history is so interesting, diverse, and rich with experiences that he was never lacking for material.  He had a challenging childhood after losing his father to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) when he was 7 years old.  Marshall’s courage and bravery began that day, and he needed to call on that strength many times throughout his lifespan. 

Marshall passed away on March 13, 2022, due to Lewy body dementia. He was 88.

Marshall was born on May 17, 1933, in Liberty, Iowa, to his parents Otto and Cleone Hiner. He was raised on a farm, and this is where his love of animals began. This is also where his sense of adventure, as well as his compassion and generosity for those who are suffering, was born.  He enlisted in the Air Force when he met the age requirement and asked to be sent to Korea.  As fate would have it, he was sent to Edwards Air Force Base, where he served in a squadron that supported some of the most exciting test pilots in aviation history.  Most importantly, receiving his orders for California positioned Marshall to meet the love of his life, Mary, at the Los Angeles (Hollywood) Palladium.  They married on March 3, 1956, in Las Vegas, and their daughter Marcie was born one year later to complete their little family.

Marshall was predeceased by his parents, his wife Mary, his brothers William Hiner and Larry Griffin, his brothers-in-law George Eriksen (Vera) and Robert Eriksen (Alice), his niece Sonya Gale (Chuck), and his nephew Rob Eriksen.  He is survived by his daughter Marcie Hanna (Joe), his granddaughter Marianne Bagai (Paul), his great-granddaughters Jadyn and Ashlyn, his sister Kathy Sessor, and his best friend of 66 years Myron Hunt. Survivors also include his brother-in-law Charles Eriksen (Mona), and his many nieces and nephews.

Marshall took his responsibility as provider for his family seriously.  When Mary was pregnant with Marcie in 1956, he discharged from the Air Force and joined a small electronics firm founded by Francis Moseley, which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard Company in 1958.  This is where he met his best friend of 66 years, Myron Hunt.  He found his work home and worked in Pasadena for 10 years, before transferring his family to Paramus, New Jersey, to “clean up” the Service Center.  After “serving time” in New Jersey for four years, his hard work was rewarded by being sent to Rancho Bernardo to assist with opening HP’s manufacturing plant in 1970.  He was transferred to Corporate Headquarters in Palo Alto in 1979 and remained there until his retirement after serving 39 years.  He had a diverse experience at Hewlett-Packard Company and worked in various capacities internationally and in the United States including and not limited to Sales, Service, Quality Assurance and Personnel/Human Relations. His final position involved managing Personnel/Human Relations for the US Field Operations, focusing on mergers/acquisitions, and working closely with the corporate attorneys.

Those who knew Marshall well understood that he was not all work – he could have been a standup comedian, although he often said, “I should have been a Chef.”  He was the best neighbor and coordinated many camping trips to everywhere you could possibly think of such as Death Valley, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Lake Havasu, and even New England.  He also became a private pilot, and the skilled captain of many sailboats.  Planning sailing trips to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands was almost as fun as the sailing part of the adventures. 

After retiring, Marshall and Mary returned to San Diego primarily to be present for their granddaughter Marianne.  Marshall was the best husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  During retirement, he had some of the biggest battles of his life and underwent heart bypass surgery, two bouts of an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma twelve years apart, a cardiac event that resulted in a massive traumatic brain injury, and ultimately succumbed to a Lewy Body style of dementia.  He never lost his fight, love of life, and positive example of never giving up to those who were fortunate to call him family/friend.

Marshall will be laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery.  His memorial service will be at 1:00pm on Saturday, April 16th at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church…17010 Pomerado Road, San Diego, 92128.  Reverend Paul Bagai and Rev. Dr. Mofid Wasef will officiate the service.  Donations in Marshall’s memory can be made to Alzheimer’s San Diego (Quest for The Cure in the Memo), c/o Linda Cioffi, Alpine View Lodge, 973 Arnold Way, Alpine, CA, 91901.

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