{"id":400,"date":"2026-09-03T10:26:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T14:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/?page_id=400"},"modified":"2026-09-21T12:38:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T16:38:00","slug":"memorial-benches","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/highlights\/memorial-benches\/","title":{"rendered":"Memorial Benches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Places to Rest, Reflect, and Remember<\/h2>\n

Throughout the Marshall University Arboretum, benches provide welcoming places to sit, study, enjoy the campus landscape, or simply pause beneath the shade of a favorite tree. These spaces encourage visitors to slow down and experience the beauty of the university’s living arboretum from a new perspective.<\/p>\n

Among the many benches found across campus are a number of memorial benches dedicated to individuals whose lives, service, and contributions continue to shape the Marshall community. These benches provide places for remembrance while also serving a practical purpose for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors.<\/p>\n

Living Connections to Campus History<\/h2>\n

Memorial benches offer a unique way to honor people while contributing to the campus environment. Through plaques, inscriptions, and carefully chosen locations, each bench helps preserve a story and connect it to a place that can be enjoyed by future generations.<\/p>\n

Some memorial benches commemorate alumni, faculty members, staff, students, or friends of the university. Others recognize service, achievement, or lasting contributions to the Marshall community.<\/p>\n

Places to Enjoy<\/h2>\n

The memorial benches featured on this page are only a small part of the seating available throughout the Marshall University Arboretum. Many additional benches can be found across campus, providing spaces for studying, conversation, contemplation, and appreciation of the surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n

Whether located beneath mature shade trees, near historic landmarks, or along well-traveled walkways, these benches help create welcoming outdoor spaces that support learning, connection, and reflection.<\/p>\n

Memorial Bench Locations<\/h2>\n

Visitors can find memorial benches in several locations around the Memorial Student Center Plaza, Drinko Library, and Old Main. The map below highlights the memorial benches documented on this page. Photos and descriptions of each bench and its dedication are provided below.<\/p>\n

\"Campus<\/a><\/p>\n

Paul W. Ambrose Bench<\/h3>\n

\"Memorial<\/p>\n

Located centrally on campus near Memorial Student Center plaza<\/p>\n

Plaque reads “In memory of MUSOM graduate Paul W. Ambrose and the 2,976 others who lost their lives on September 11, 2001<\/em>”<\/p>\n

John C. Browning Bench<\/h3>\n

\"Memorial<\/p>\n

Located near the northwest corner of Drinko Library<\/p>\n

Plaque reads “John C. Browning, West Virginia Freedom Rider<\/em>” with two paw prints below<\/p>\n

Hal Shaver Bench<\/h3>\n

\"Memorial<\/p>\n

Located along the north side of Old Main<\/p>\n

Plaque reads “In loving memory of Hal Shaver<\/em>”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Terry Lovely Snowder Bench<\/h3>\n

\"Memorial<\/p>\n

Located along walkway leading south from Morrow Library<\/p>\n

Plaque reads “In loving memory Terry Lovey Snowder, forever in our hearts, beloved sister and devoted MU alumna<\/em>”<\/p>\n

Ted Wilson Bench<\/h3>\n

\"Memorial<\/p>\n

Located near northeast corner of Memorial Student Center plaza<\/p>\n

Plaque reads “In loving memory Ted Wilson, forever & always in our hearts \u2014 The Marcelo Lajterman & The 1970 Football Team Memorial Scholarship Fund<\/em>”<\/p>\n

Ella Marie Brumfield Zirkle Bench<\/h3>\n

\"Memorial<\/p>\n

Located west of Drinko Library<\/p>\n

Plaque reads “In loving memory of Ella Marie Brumfield Zirkle (1973\u20132002), loyal employee of Marshall University Libraries 1994\u20132002. Donated by Library staff and friends.<\/em>”<\/p>\n

Quick Facts<\/h2>\n

Feature Type:<\/strong> Memorial benches
\nPurpose:<\/strong> Seating, reflection, and commemoration
\nFound Throughout:<\/strong> Marshall University campus and arboretum
\nAssociated With:<\/strong> Individuals, families, organizations, and university history<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Places to Rest, Reflect, and Remember Throughout the Marshall University Arboretum, benches provide welcoming places to sit, study, enjoy the campus landscape, or simply pause beneath the shade of a favorite tree. These spaces encourage visitors to slow down and experience the beauty of the university’s living arboretum from a new perspective. Among the many<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":224,"featured_media":401,"parent":8,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-narrow.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-400","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/224"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=400"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":453,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/400\/revisions\/453"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/arboretum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}