Individual Details
Marvin Richard "Dick" FURR
(1 Oct 1919 - 24 Aug 1993)
Sacrifices remembered – Marrs rediscovers family’s WWII experiences from 75-year-old letters
MAY 25, 2020 BY BEN HAWKINS
KANSAS CITY – Hunkered down in his home for the past couple months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Matt Marrs nevertheless traveled back across both space and time because of a family treasure – namely, dozens of 75-year-old letters from the World War II era – that he received from his late grandmother, Ruby Furr.
During the pandemic lockdown, Marrs pulled out a magnifying glass and began to organize the letters and inspect them, one by one. And he made some incredible discoveries: For example, in late 1944 and early 1945, his late grandfather Dick Furr was sent on a special military assignment away from his unit – only to discover after his return that his whole unit had been taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge.
“When my grandfather escaped capture, the wives of these other men who were captured didn’t have any source of information for what had happened,” said Marrs, who serves as the North American Mission Board’s director of the Midwest region. “So they began to write my grandmother, asking if she had any information on the whereabouts of their husbands who were prisoners of war.”
Eventually, these imprisoned soldiers and husbands were liberated, Marrs added. “They all wrote letters to my grandfather, talking about their experience as prisoners of war.”
After finding this network of letters, Marrs wasn’t content simply to file them away. Instead, he began to seek out the children and grandchildren of the men and women who had corresponded with his grandparents. Soon, he found a few of them online and sent them scans of the letters their family members had written. He plans to send them the hard copies of the letters, as well.
Marr’s new acquaintances were excited to hear about the letters. One of the women he contacted has no memorabilia from her father’s WWII experience, making the letters particularly significant for her.
“People have been pleasantly surprised,” Marrs said. “They’ve said it brings back a lot of emotion to see their mother’s handwriting again or their father’s handwriting again, from all those years ago.”
For Marrs, reading through the letters has also put the present moment in perspective, as well.
“Reading how hard it was and how much sacrifice they made during that time,” Marrs said, “it makes our current situation not as dire as sometimes we think it is.”
MAY 25, 2020 BY BEN HAWKINS
KANSAS CITY – Hunkered down in his home for the past couple months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Matt Marrs nevertheless traveled back across both space and time because of a family treasure – namely, dozens of 75-year-old letters from the World War II era – that he received from his late grandmother, Ruby Furr.
During the pandemic lockdown, Marrs pulled out a magnifying glass and began to organize the letters and inspect them, one by one. And he made some incredible discoveries: For example, in late 1944 and early 1945, his late grandfather Dick Furr was sent on a special military assignment away from his unit – only to discover after his return that his whole unit had been taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge.
“When my grandfather escaped capture, the wives of these other men who were captured didn’t have any source of information for what had happened,” said Marrs, who serves as the North American Mission Board’s director of the Midwest region. “So they began to write my grandmother, asking if she had any information on the whereabouts of their husbands who were prisoners of war.”
Eventually, these imprisoned soldiers and husbands were liberated, Marrs added. “They all wrote letters to my grandfather, talking about their experience as prisoners of war.”
After finding this network of letters, Marrs wasn’t content simply to file them away. Instead, he began to seek out the children and grandchildren of the men and women who had corresponded with his grandparents. Soon, he found a few of them online and sent them scans of the letters their family members had written. He plans to send them the hard copies of the letters, as well.
Marr’s new acquaintances were excited to hear about the letters. One of the women he contacted has no memorabilia from her father’s WWII experience, making the letters particularly significant for her.
“People have been pleasantly surprised,” Marrs said. “They’ve said it brings back a lot of emotion to see their mother’s handwriting again or their father’s handwriting again, from all those years ago.”
For Marrs, reading through the letters has also put the present moment in perspective, as well.
“Reading how hard it was and how much sacrifice they made during that time,” Marrs said, “it makes our current situation not as dire as sometimes we think it is.”
Events
| Birth | 1 Oct 1919 | Missouri | |||
| Occupation | 1940 - 2950 | department store stock boy/salesman - Jackson County, MO | |||
| Marriage | 1 Dec 1940 | Jackson County, MO - Ruby Lillian KENNEDY | |||
| Death | 24 Aug 1993 | Kansas City, Jackson County, MO |  |  | |
| Alt name | Richard Marvin FURR | ||||
| Soc Sec No | 499-10-7507 | | |||
| Military | in World War II | | | ||
| Burial | Floral Hills Funeral Home and Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson County, MO | |
Families
| Spouse | Ruby Lillian KENNEDY (1921 - 2005) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Cherrie Janeave FURR (1947 - ) |
| Child | Terri Suzane FURR (1950 - ) |
| Child | Living |
| Father | Richard Christian FURR (1896 - 1981) |
| Mother | Laura E. TOLER (1898 - 1992) |
Notes
Death
Marvin R. “Dick” Furr, 73, southeast Kansas City, owner of an Oriental rug store, died Aug. 24, 1993, at Research Medical Center. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Newcomer's Floral Hills Chapel; burial in Floral Hills Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at the chapel. The family suggests contributions to the Loma Vista Baptist Church. Mr. Furr owned Furr’s Oriental Rugs in Kansas City for more than 25 years. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons. He was a member of the church. He was a lifelong area resident. Survivors include his wife, Ruby L. Furr of the home; a son, Don R. Furr, Lee’s Summit; three daughters, Jan Hall, Sunrise Beach, Mo., Teri Marrs, Blue Springs, and Becky Harris, Grain Valley in Jackson County; two sisters, Merle Davis, Kansas City, and Juanita McClasky, Cole Camp, Mo.; and eight grandchildren.The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri, August 25, 1993
Military
Name: Marvin R FurrBirth Year: 1919
Race: White, citizen
Nativity State or Country: Missouri
State: Missouri
County or City: Jackson
Enlistment Date: 27 Feb 1943
Enlistment State: Kansas
Enlistment City: Fort Levenworth
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Motorcycle Mechanic or Packer, High Explosives (Munitions worker, ammunition. ) or Toolroom Keeper or Stock Clerk or Stock Control Clerk
Marital Status: Married
Height: 66
Weight: 128
Endnotes
1. The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri, August 25, 1993.
2. United States Social Security Death Index.
3. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD..
4. findagrave.com.