Marvin Lee Maxfield, Sr

Marvin was born and raised in the southwest part of Virginia. His father was a coal miner and worked with men that mined over 2 million tons of coal a year. There were 750 men that worked in the Clinchfield Coal Mine.

After his parents divorced Marvin lived with his grandpa. At the age of five Marvin learned that he had plenty to "Mother" him. His grandfather had 10 children.

Marvin loved to fish. He would walk 3 miles each way to go fishing.

He realized at a young age the way to make a living in the area was to be a miner or farmer. Consequently, he joined the Air Force. He completed his GED in the Air Force which was equivalent to a two year college degree. Marvin served in the military police in the Air Force and patrolled the bars in the downtown area of Topeka. At the Forbes Air Base, he worked in public relations as well. His goal was to let people know there were good people and not all of them were party animals. He formed an event in which he narrated giving the public a chance to see the Thunder Birds, a fishing program, canine corps, magician and helicopters performing a square dance in the air.

Upon completing his service in the Air Force, he began to work for an asphalt paving company. After a year of observing the process and thinking he would be able to better the work he began his own business. A friend sold him the patent to an asphalt curb machine. It was versatile and could be used on concrete or asphalt to form a curb.

He began experimenting with processing rubber from tires to make crack fillers. This led him to Derby, KA in 1979 to make a running track using seal-flex. He mixed it in a cement mixer then spread it by hand.

The next track he worked on was in Beloit, KS. He developed a process to spray oil to bind with the asphalt for a tac coat of asphalt. Then put on pellets of rubber to level the track. The binder of the top of the rubber required three to four coats depending on the thickness of the track.

Another company purchased the seal-flex in 1981. He experimented with asphalt to asphalt, latex to asphalt, color then clear coat of binder. He tried a layer of oil, then rubber and latex. Finally, one night during his sleep he heard a loud booming voice say, "Try Soap." He used Palmolive soap in the mixer of latex and rubber. It worked! The soap allowed the mix to set up in 20 minutes whereas before it would take 8 to 10 hours to set up.

For 14 years Martin owned and ran a vending machine business in Wichita. He sold snacks, pop, and sandwiches. This living gave him more time to go fishing. It is said he can catch fish in different spots, with different lure and bait and he could catch more fish than anyone else.

In his lifetime he participated in the Topeka Civic Theatre where he got five speaking parts. The Kansas Story was presented just once. However, in "No Time for Sergeants" he had the lead role and was in three performances.

Later in life, he was a regular at the Concert in the Barn events near Sharon. His harmonica was his calling card at the barn, church, and community events or even at the Doctor's office in Wichita.

At the age of ten he listened to Lonnie Glosman, Wayne Raney from Del Rio TX Grand Ole Opry. A harmonic sold for 50 cents in those days. He shared that talking harmonica is achieved if you can make it say, "Momma I want a drink of water." Then you can play anything.

Painting became one of Marvin's loves. He watched the Bob Ross program on television and taught himself how to paint. He gave or sold many of his landscapes. He liked to use the rose, pink and yellows of the sun... He entered one of his paintings in the Harper County Fair one year and won grand champion in the art division.

He had a job driving many people to doctor appointments in Wichita. He would hand out candy, including his favorite bit of honey, to folks at church.

He shared the most exciting day of his life was the day his son was born. It was a doozey he said. He rushed his wife to the hospital the baby did not come. He was told "Airman you are going home, we'll call when the baby comes." he went home, and spit polished his shoes. He got to see his son.

Marvin Lee Maxfield, Sr. 85, of Maple Hill, KS passed away Monday, September 12, 2022, at the House of Midland Care Hospice, Topeka. He was born November 21, 1936, in Dante Virginia, the son of Clyde and Allie Maxfield.

Marvin served in the Air Force. He was a member of the American Legion for 32 years.

He is survived by son, Lee; sister, Mary; a brother, Wayne; stepdaughter, Susan, and her two sons. Two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren also survive.