Obituary: Marvin Stephen Cavanaugh, Surveyor and Community Volunteer

Marvin Stephen Cavanaugh died January 7, 2026, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice in Winston-Salem; a memorial service is scheduled for January 17, 2026, at Danbury Community Church.

Marvin Stephen Cavanaugh passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice in Winston-Salem. He lived in Sandy Ridge and was known for his work as a land surveyor, his long service in local conservation, and his involvement at Danbury Community Church. He studied civil engineering at North Carolina State University and led his own surveying firms for many years. He was active in coaching youth sports, raising and showing horses, and supporting environmental causes. Key details: - Passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice in Winston-Salem. - Resident of Sandy Ridge and a graduate of North Carolina State University in civil engineering. - Began his surveying career with the John A. Edwards Company, worked for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, co-founded Cavanaugh and White Surveyors, and led Marvin S. Cavanaugh Associates until a 2003 merger; he retired in November 2019 at age 80 and held surveying licenses in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. - Elected Stokes County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor in 1998 and served for decades; served as State Chaplain for the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors until 2025. - Active mentor in Danbury Community Church youth programs, longtime youth sports coach, and a lifelong horse owner who showed Saddlebreds and enjoyed trail riding. - A memorial service will be held at Danbury Community Church on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.; the family asks that memorial donations be made to the North Stokes Food Pantry and the CAH Cares Foundation, and Colonial Funeral Home Stokes Chapel is serving the family. Summary: Marvin Cavanaugh's professional work and community service are noted for their long reach across local conservation, youth mentorship, and regional surveying practice. A memorial service is scheduled for January 17, 2026, at Danbury Community Church at 2:00 p.m., and the family has provided details for memorial donations and online condolences.