LENOIR, N.C. THE senior citizen of the over-the-road bus industry, Marvin E. Walsh, died here late last month, less than 10 days after marking his 102nd birthday.

Mr. Walsh spent his entire adult life in the industry and, although not one of the original signers, attended the 1936 Chicago meeting at which five bus companies formed the National Trailways Bus System.

He owned and operated Safeway Trailways Inc., that portion of Trailways that operated between Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, and later became the longest serving president of the Trailways association, now known as the Trailways Transportation System.

Mr. Walsh was born near Ferguson, N.C., in 1906, the oldest of 11 children. Three brothers and two sisters survive him.

Mr. Walsh began his industry career in 1925, hiring on as a 19-year-old mechanic with a bus company in Roanoke, Va. A decade and a few jobs later, he was in Chicago at the forming of Trailways. An early member of the system was Safeway Trailways and, in 1937, Mr. Walsh became that companys general superintendent of maintenance and operations.

Five years later, at the age of 36, he was named chief executive of Safeway Trailways. He held that job until 1965, when Safeway merged with Trans-Continental, forming Continental Trailways, which operated in 43 states. Mr. Walsh managed Continental Trailways 16-state northeast territory until he retired in 1976.

Four years after retiring, Mr. Walsh was hired as president of the national Trailways association, serving in that job for 12 years before retiring a second time. He continued to consult through much of the 1990s.

He was an honorary lifetime board member of Trailways and the American Bus Association.

Five years ago, at the tender age of 96, Mr. Walsh recounted his life in the form of a 110-page hardcover book entitled: My Story The Scenic Route. (See July 15, 2003 Bus & Motorcoach News.)

In addition to his brothers and sisters, Mr. Walsh is survived by his wife, Helen; his daughter, Betty Jane Washington of Lake Lure, N.C.; three grandsons, and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial has been established in Mr. Walshs name with Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St. NW, Lenoir NC 28645.