Vernon E. Marsteller, Jr., 80, of Frederick County, Virginia passed away Sunday, August 19, 2018, at Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury.

Mr. Marsteller was born in 1938 in Washington, D.C., the son of the late Gladys and Vernon Marsteller, Sr. He was a graduate of Washington and Lee High School, Arlington, Virginia and a veteran of the United States Army, having served as a Military Police Officer. Mr. Marsteller was a police officer in Arlington County, Virginia from 1960-1965, where he was an accident investigator. It was there that he developed photography skills, which helped influence his daughter’s career. From 1965-1974 he owned/operated Alarm Specialist Company in Springfield, Virginia. In 1975 he and his wife, Betty, moved to Winchester and opened Omni Alarm Systems, which they operated for 30+ years, and were affectionately known as “Mr. M” and “Mrs. M”. Mr. Marsteller was an active member of the Kiwanis since 1981, where he served on the board and received their highest honor, the Hixon Medal, in 2013. With his participation in the Kiwanis he served countless pounds of sausage at Pancake Day and loved reading to the children at Fremont Street Nursery, as well as Christmas shopping for presents for the not so privileged children in the community. He was an active board member of the Chamber of Commerce and received the Small Business of the Year award and a former board member at Braddock Street United Methodist Church, where he was a longstanding member and provided videography services for the church. Mr. Marsteller was active in the local baseball community as an umpire. He was an avid Redskins fan with a great sense of humor. His favorite saying and advice to all, “when all else fails, read the directions.”

He married Betty Ann Randall on September 28, 1958 in Nokesville, Virginia.

Surviving with his wife of 59 years is a daughter, Lauri M. Bridgeforth and husband, Scott of Winchester, Virginia; grandchildren, Claire Bridgeforth and fiancé, Ryan Martin of Richmond, Virginia; Sean and Seth Bridgeforth of Winchester, Virginia; sister, Sandra L. Provine and husband, Mike of Clarksville, Tennessee; and brother-in-law, Kirk Randall and wife, Betty Jo of Brandy Station, Virginia.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 6 pm to 8 pm on Thursday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 am on Friday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel with Reverend Kirk Nave officiating. Interment will be in Shenandoah Memorial Park, Winchester, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Vernon’s memory to http://www.specialove.org/donate/ or Kiwanis Club of Winchester Community Services Fund, P.O. Box 2591, Winchester, Virginia 22604.