Hugo Dixon Marple, 91, Lubbock, Texas, the former chair of the Music Department at Wisconsin State University-Stevens Point, now the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP), and conductor of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, died Thursday, March 15, 2012, at his home.
A memorial service was held Monday, March 19, in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church in Lubbock, Texas. Burial was held in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, W. Va.
Memorials are suggested to the South Plains Food Bank, 4612 Locust Ave., Lubbock, TX 79401; Everliving Trust of the First United Methodist Church, 1411 Broadway Ave., Lubbock, TX 79401; or the charity of one’s choice.
Mr. Marple was born Aug. 4, 1920, in McMechen, W.Va., a son of the late Nile and Mary Marple.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946, where he was a member of the Armed Forces Band in Fort Knox, Ky.
He received a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate degree from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.
For 35 years, he chaired the music departments of University of Indianapolis, UW-SP and the music education division of Texas Tech University. He was chair of the Music Department at Wisconsin State University-Stevens Point from 1954 to 1969. He also conducted the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra from 1957 to 1969. During the 16 years at Texas Tech, he wrote four texts and numerous articles, some of which were published in Europe and the U.S.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he taught adult Sunday school classes for more than 25 years.
Survivors include his wife, Annette; one son, Craig (Kay), Spencerport, N.Y.; two daughters Karen (Tom) Kreiser, Beloit, and Elaine Illes, Tampa, Fla.; one brother, Homer (Ellen), Hilton, N.Y.; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one infant son, Neal; and one infant sister, Ellen.
