Joseph William Marnell

Dr. Joseph William Marnell unexpectedly passed away on June 17, 2025, at Covenant Hospital in Lubbock, Texas after a brief illness. He was 75 years old. He was welcomed to Heaven by his youngest son, Paul Marnell, his brothers James Ruddy and Bobby Marnell, and parents James Marnell and Shirley (Marnell) McKenna.

Joe was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in the Farmington, MI area. He attended avionics high school, graduating with certification as an aircraft mechanic. This started a lifelong interest in piloting! However, a recession at the time prevented him from keeping a job as an aircraft mechanic, so he worked in sales for a time and as a manager for Burger King. His skill as a manager along with his equipment certification opened an opportunity for him to transfer to the Burger King Corporation equipment installation division in the Miami, FL area.

For several years he traveled all over the US installing equipment in Burger King restaurants. When an opportunity opened for him to become the youngest operating partner, at that time, in a Burger King restaurant in southeast New Mexico; he jumped on it! He and his wife picked up the 30-foot travel trailer they were living in, and moved from Homestead FL to Roswell NM, sight unseen. As years passed, the franchise grew to multiple locations in southeastern New Mexico, buying out their financial partner along the way. During this time, he achieved his dream of becoming a private pilot and owning his own airplane!

Eventually, Joe sold his interest in the franchise and spent some time in multi-level marketing before deciding to finish his college education. He completed his BA, at Eastern new Mexico University, in record time; followed by 2 MA degrees at Wayland Baptist University. Joe then began working as the IT director of the Wayland Baptist University campus in Lubbock, TX. Joe began teaching classes as an adjunct professor as well, finding this to be the most rewarding part of his new career. He received a lot of recognition for his work with his students. Joe began working towards his doctorate in cybersecurity from Nova University, graduating with his PhD in 2016. Ultimately, having worked for Wayland Baptist University for 25 years, he became a full professor there, devising a curriculum for cybersecurity both at the undergraduate and graduate level before his time on earth was done.

Joe loved the Lord and was ordained as minister through Morris Cerrullo World Evangelism.

Joe is survived by his oldest son, William Christopher Marnell of Lubbock, TX; his niece Patricia Ruddy Kennedy and husband Darrell of the Detroit, MI area; his nephew James Ruddy and nephew Brian Ruddy in Florida; his cousin Barbara Fitzgerald; his longtime girlfriend, Chris Hoffman of Lubbock, TX; and many close friends!

A memorial service for Joe is planned at the Lubbock campus of Wayland Baptist University, 801 N. Quaker Ave., on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Per his wishes, he was cremated and will be buried at South Park Cemetery in Roswell, NM, at a later time, alongside his beloved son Paulie. Memorial donations, in his name, may be made to Wayland Baptist University at www.wbu.edu