Marvin J. Cozart, age 74 of Batesville, died Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at Manderley Heath Care Center in Osgood. Born May 7, 1943 in Fortville, Indiana, he is the son of Barbara (Nee: Rapp) and Harry Cozart. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam war and would work as press operator at Batesville Casket Company until retiring. He married Sharon Peters July 27, 1974 in Oldenburg, Indiana and was a former member of the Batesville Fire Department, Batesville Rescue 10, Prell-Bland American Legion Post #271 and the Batesville V.F.W. Post #3183, where he was also was a past commander.
Marvin was proud of his service, spending six years in the Navy aboard the USS Yorktown. He was also an avid race fan. He followed NASCAR and for over 35 years attended the Indianapolis 500 which isn’t surprising considering his family’s ties to the sport. In the old days, the 500 drivers would stay at homes of local residents. Marvin’s family would open their house to the drivers when they were in during the month of May and even had an uncle who worked on the track’s safety crew for many years.
Other interests included the Cincinnati Reds, I.U. basketball, watching the History and Discovery cable T.V. channels as well as Oldies music. Apparently he liked annoying the grandchildren by blasting Cincinnati’s oldies station as loud as he could, knowing it would get a rise out of them.
He is survived by his wife Sharon; daughters Tracy (Paul) Hodges of Batesville, Gina Harpring of Greensburg, Marilyn (Gary) Dusang of New Castle, Indiana; sons Jay Harpring of Indianapolis, Charlie (Jackie) Cozart of Batesville; sisters Margaret Rentch (his twin) of Seymour, Indiana, Diana Lynn Pruitt of Scottsburg, Indiana; brother Dennis Cozart of Fortville, Indiana; ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation is Saturday, September 2nd, from 9 – 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services follow at 11 a.m. and burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the Prell-Bland American Legion and the Batesville V.F.W. The family requests memorials to the Indiana Patriot Guard or the Batesville Fire Department.