Marshall "Ty" R. Compton, 88

Marshall "Ty" R. Compton, 88, of Chula Vista, Calif., died on May 27, 2012.

Services were June 7 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Chula Vista.

Marshall "Ty" R. Compton was born on January 19, 1924, in Blair to William and Bernice Compton.

He was an only child and as a young man he hunted, fished and excelled at football, basketball and track at both Blair High School and Dana College.

His main love was flying. He bought his first plane, a Piper Cub, at age 14 with money he earned working at a local lumber yard.

He remained an avid pilot throughout his adult life.

He left college in 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy as a naval aviation cadet. He became a naval aviator in 1944.

In 1944, he married his high school sweetheart, Bette Jean Young. They started their family in Blair and he built his first home with the help of his father.

After his discharge from active duty in 1945, he entered the lumber business.

In 1953, the family moved to Chula Vista., where with the help of his father, he designed and built another home for his family.

He continued in the lumber business with Home Lumber Company from 1953 to 1962. He then established Compton Lumber Company, which consisted of one lumber yard and two hardware stores.

In 1966, he began a career in real estate, including commercial and residential real estate and management. He founded Tyco Property Management Company with his son, Mitchell.

He served as president of the local board of realtors. He was a state director and regional vice president for the California Association of Realtors, of which he was named a life member in 2002.

He served as the president of the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce twice. He also volunteered on many boards and commissions for the city, local charities and the board of realtors.

Mrs. Compton died in 1992.

In 2002, he married Beverly Birdsell. The couple shared a love for travel.

In 2003, Mr. Compton was appointed by the City of Chula Vista as its commissioner on the San Diego Unified Port District.

Mr. Compton was also a passionate advocate for the Catholic faith.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly; sons, Michael of Decatur and Mitchell of Chula Vista; daughters, Marsha Webb of San Rafael, Calif., and Mary Beth Christensen of La Jolla, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, John Young and his wife, Peggy, of Blair; and sister-in-law, Shirley Gutschow of Blair.