Marvin Eugene Voth, 80, of Lawrence, Kansas, who died May 17th at Rock Creek Nursing Home of Ottawa, attended by Hospice and surrounded by friends and loved ones. There will be no burial, as Marvin has donated his body to KU Medical School and afterward will be cremated.
Many friends are counted among Marvin’s survivors, including his friend Billie David, her daughter, Adonia David, her son-in-law Brandon Munger, and other members of the family, including Jim Rolfs of Oil City, Louisiana, and Marsha and Jerry Williams of St. Joseph, Missouri.
Marvin was born October 14th, 1945, in Independence, Kansas. He graduated from Independence High School in Independence, Kansas, around 1963, and from there he moved to Lawrence to attend the University of Kansas.
He intended to study education and journalism before the Vietnam War broke out, when he instead dedicated his life to fighting for peace and justice, taking care of the poor and lonely, helping to establish the LINK Nutrition Kitchen, and serving on its board of directors for a number of years. He also helped establish a peace library and served as its librarian.
The fact that Marvin came of age at the beginning of the Vietnam War had a huge impact on his life. His Mennonite ancestors fled to the United States from Russia due to their religious beliefs when the Czar cancelled their exemption from military service, and later, his father and uncle chose alternative service in a work camp rather than fight during World War II.
When the young men of the Vietnam War era were faced with military service, Marvin chose to resist the draft and went “on the road”, afterward dedicating his life to advocating for peace and justice instead of following his original intention of becoming an educator or journalist.
One of the highlights of his life was attending Woodstock, where he lost his shirt and shoes.
Marvin’s passions included filmmaking, which he studied at the University of Kansas. Having worked with filmmaker Kevin Willmott, he was honored to attend Sundance for the mockumentary called C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2004) of which he was an actor and producer.
He was an avid reader and collector of music, books and memorabilia from the peace movement. Spencer Research Library at the University of Kansas houses the “Marvin Voth Collection”, consisting of books, magazines, posters, and pamphlets on the topic of war and nonviolence.
Marvin spent many hours listening to his extensive music collection that, among his eclectic mix, included music composed and sung by such artists as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Phil Ochs, as well as jazz and classical music.
He was the son of Moses H. Voth and Beuna Vista Dirks of Independence, Kansas. His sister Vionetta P. Schmidt and her husband Robert L. Schmidt of Littleton, Colorado, have also predeceased Marvin.
Services to celebrate Marvin’s life will be 1:00 PM to 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at the Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66046. Memorial contributions can be made to the LINK Nutrition Kitchen, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.
