Carlos Marban

Carlos Porro Marban, born October 5, 1954, died unexpectedly at his home on December 5, 2022. In addition to his loving wife Lisa Marban, he is survived by his siblings, Annie Purcell (Jim) and Susie Payne (Mike), of this area, along with Steve Marban (Terri) of Melbourne Beach, Florida, Stephanie Cassatly (Michael) of Jupiter, Florida, Heather Flynn (Jay) of Boston, and Holly Rosendale (Kyle) of Sitka, Alaska; and, his mother-in-law, Sandra Lombard, brothers-in-law, Stephen Lombard and Mark Lombard (Trish) and sister-in-law, Paige Stowers (Glenn).

Also surviving him are sixteen nieces and nephews, whom he loved and treated like sons and daughters: Michael Payne (Katie), Suzanne May (Kevin), Rita Grimes (Paul), James Purcell (Brooke), Mary Helen Law (Fisher), Charles Purcell (Ashley), Lydia LaHatte (Ben), Sarah Bachich (Luke), Hannah Jones (Matt), Molly Flynn, Bridget Flynn, Connor Rosendale, Lexi Lombard, Erik Lombard, Morgan Lombard, and Jack Stowers.

A Cuban refugee, Carlos lived the American dream in his professional and personal lives. His childhood fascination with horses led him to Minnick Park Stables and eventually a vocation training horses and future equestrians. He personally competed in equestrian jumping events at the highest levels.

Successful negotiating techniques—learned horse trading—naturally led him to a two-decades long profession in commercial real estate with Otis Crowell. But he reached the pinnacle of his business career as a car wash entrepreneur. As a sideline, he pioneered the current tunnel car wash form and co-founded LuLu’s Car Washes with his partner, Robert Black. Started in the depths of the 2008/2009 real estate recession, LuLu’s grew into an unparalleled business success with multiple locations, and was recently sold to a private equity group.

Sale of the business allowed Carlos to turn even more of his attention to his true love as a sportsman. From the time his Uncle Manolo Porro first placed a gun in his hands in Morillo, Nicaragua, Carlos was smitten with the Great Outdoors. He hunted all over the world with wonderful, like-minded outdoorsmen, including those he befriended in hunting clubs throughout Georgia and South Carolina.

Carlos will be remembered for his kindness, ever-present sense of humor, and generosity to recipients too numerous to mention. While it was these hallmarks of his winning personality that attracted Lisa to him, Carlos thought of her as his true prize. They found love and peace with each other for more than 20 years living along the banks of the Savannah River. The natural beauty of the seasons there marked the years of their unfailing love for each other.

Visitation will be held at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, Georgia 30907, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 11, 2022. Reverend Mark Maund will conduct funeral services from the same location on Monday, December 12, 2022, beginning at 11:00 a.m.