Master Gunnery Sergeant, Malvin Haubenstein, USMC Retired

Master Gunnery Sergeant, Malvin Haubenstein, USMC Retired, reported to his final duty station on November 17, 2024. Known as "Chip" to all, he was an avid collector of tools, toys, and miscellaneous junk.

A private Celebration of Life will be held on December 1st. A graveside service, with full military honors, will be held at 12 p.m., January 24, 2025, at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Chip served honorably in the United States Marine Corps for 30 years including stints in Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Enduring Freedom and aboard the USS Wasp, amid numerous other assignments.

A natural athlete (who rarely sat still,) he excelled at bowling, baseball roller skating, four wheeling in the mud, throwing horseshoes & especially cornhole. Chip enjoyed time at Shackelford Banks. He had an innate ability to fit in anywhere, equally comfortable (and handsome,) in his dress blues or supporting a good cause while dressed as a dalmatian, hippie or bumblebee.

Generous to friends as well as strangers on the side of the road, he was the first to show up. Whether you needed help moving, painting, or repairing your car, Chip was there, since he had almost every tool you could ever need in the Garage Mahal. Fred Sanford would be proud!

Preceded in death by his mother, Gloria Miller Haubenstein and his father, Joseph Haubenstein, Chip was named for his paternal grandfather, Malvin Howard "Pud" Haubenstein. He always laughed that luckily Gloria put the kibosh on him being referred to as "Little Pud."

Raised in Cumberland, MD, Chip got to Newport, NC as fast as he could with a few stops along the way. Among the most notable of those was during his duty as a Drill Instructor in Parris Island, SC in the early 1990's where he met, pursued, messed up, recovered, and finally married the love of his life, Gina Wright. Married in 1995, they celebrated and shared almost 30 years of mostly married bliss.

He is also survived by the apple of his eye, his daughter, Kristin, and his three beloved grandchildren, Kelci, Camden and Katie, as well as his brother, David (Debra).

Chip loved his country, his family, and mostly his friends. His giving, kind, funny soul will be greatly missed by those of us lucky enough to have known him. 

Please don't send flowers as a token of your affection and respect for Chip since Gina has 10 black thumbs. If you'd like to honor Chip, please consider a donation to Misplaced Mutts since he loved all of his furry friends.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Morehead City, N.C.