GASTONIA (March 18, 2025) – Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch, 102, of Gastonia, North Carolina, passed away on March 18, 2025 with his family by his side.
Born on February 2, 1923 in Manhattan, New York, Senator Rauch was the son of the late Tillie Wohl Rauch and Nathan Allen Rauch.
Widely and affectionately called by his first name, Marshall was respected and beloved for his commitment to his family, community, and faith.
Marshall moved to North Carolina in 1940 to attend Duke University where he played varsity basketball. After two years he enlisted in the US Army infantry, during World War II and served in France, Germany, and Austria where he earned two bronze stars. In 1946, he married Jeanne Girard, of Bessemer City, whom he met at Duke. They raised a family of five children: Ingrid, Marc, Peter, Stephanie and John White.
Marshall was renowned for Rauch Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of Christmas ornaments. He loved telling the story of how a young Jewish guy had the good fortune to establish a successful business that celebrated Christmas. Along with his sons and daughters, who managed the company, the family sold the business in 1996.
Marshall also entered local politics, serving on the Gastonia City Council from 1952-1954 and from 1961-1965. His skills as an ethical and concerned leader were soon apparent, particularly as co-chair of the 1964 Gastonia Human Relations Committee, a group of Black and White leaders whose honest and frank conversations enabled the successful integration of the Gaston County Schools and avoided civil unrest.
In 1967 he was elected to represent the 25th District in the North Carolina Senate. For 10 years he served as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and was proud to have always prepared a balanced budget. Throughout, the Senator cared deeply about the wellbeing of the people he represented. He was beloved for welcoming phone calls and visits from constituents. In 24 years in the Senate, his steadfast focus was on racial harmony, education, and enhancing the economy.
An expert in shaping policy and programs, Marshall served on the boards of many organizations including as Chair of the Gaston Community Foundation and Director of the Gaston Boys Club. Among his many honors were the Alan H. Sims Award of the Gaston Community Foundation, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the Wisdom of Solomon Award from Temple Emanuel, Gastonia, and the Legacy of Love Award from Holy Angels. He was especially proud of his service on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors where, as Chair of the Finance Committee, he produced balanced budgets.
Following his political career Marshall remained committed to helping North Carolina and Gaston County residents fulfill their potential as he routinely provided advice to individuals and organizations. He often wrote a check following Maimonides’ Eight Levels of Charity, a Jewish practice that states the highest level of charitable giving is helping individuals achieve self-sufficiency. This tradition, based in the pursuit of justice, motivated him to provide a hand up to hundreds of people, especially those earning degrees in higher education.
He also made transformational gifts for the Rauch Science and Fine Arts Building and the Jeanne Rauch Gallery at Gaston College and for the Marshall A. Rauch Distinguished Professor of Political Science at UNC Charlotte.
As a member of Temple Emanuel for more than 70 years , Marshall was a leader and friend. Among his many generous acts was helping establish a Temple endowment. In recognition of their abiding love and support, the congregation named Jeanne and Marshall as Honorary Lifetime Members.
Throughout his long and engaging life, his family and many friends treasured Marshall’s love of telling a good story, his joy in a good laugh, and his magical way of putting people at ease. He was an unending source of optimism, clever solutions, good and bad jokes, and an ongoing celebration of life.
Marshall was preceded in death by Jeanne Rauch, his beloved wife and anchor for 64 years, sons Marc Rauch and John White and sister Jacqueline Gottlieb and husband Newt Gottlieb. He is survived by his children Ingrid (Larry Sturm) of Las Vegas, Peter (Vicki) of Cramerton, Stephanie of Gastonia, and daughter-in-law JoAnne White (Gastonia); grandchildren Natillie (Josef Brandenburg) of Charlotte, Lauren (Dan Fraiman) of Truckee CA, Julian (Brittany) of Cramerton, Elias of Gastonia, John White (Holly) of Gastonia, Josh White (Marcia) of Gastonia, and Job White (Carrie) of Belmont. Marshall loved being great grandfather to Nora and Josie Brandenburg; Wills and Miller Rauch; Sophie Jean, Liora, and Judah Fraiman; and Jackson, Jacob, Emma Grace, Hunter and Fisher White. He also leaves many friends including his close companion, Pam Funderburk and his beloved former daughter-in-law, Elaine Lyerly.
The family is especially thankful to the many caregivers who provided Marshall with compassionate care and support at Covenant Village and at the Robin Johnson House.
Rabbi Yossi Groner and Dr. Charles Brown will lead a memorial service at 4:00PM on March 19, 2025 at McLean Funeral Directors, 700 South New Hope Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054. The service will be live streamed; please visit the McLean website for the link and recording.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Temple Emanuel Endowment Fund, c/o the Gaston Community Foundation, P.O. Box 123 Gastonia, NC 28053 and Chabad of Charlotte, 6619 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC 28270.