Call the number of red marbles $ a $, the number of yellow marbles $ b $, the number of orange marbles $ c $, and the number of white marbles $ d $. We can express the information given in the problem by the following system of linear equations: \begin{align*} a+b+c+d &= 35\\ \frac{a}{2} = b - 2 = \frac{c}{3} &= \frac{d+3}{3} \end{align*} Using the second expression, we can solve for $ a $, $ c $, and $ d $ in terms of $ b $: \begin{align*} a &= 2b - 4,\\ c &= 3b - 6, \\ d &= 3b - 9 \end{align*} Putting these values into the first equation gives $ 2b - 4 + b + 3b - 6 + 3b - 9 = 35 $, so $ b = 6 $. Because $ a = 2b - 4 $, $ a = 12 - 4 = \boxed{8} $.