In Memory

Mark Robinson - Class Of 1968 VIEW PROFILE



Mark Robinson was a good and decent man who nurtured his friendships like a gardener might nurture his prized azaleas. Throughout his life, there was always a dozen or more people who considered Mark to be their best friend. He was passionate about his relationships with God and family. He loved to travel, loved good movies, nice clothes, and What-a-burgers.

Mark was a fifth-generation Texan descended from a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto. Mark moved to Alice at age 5 and attended Noonan, Scharlet, Dubose, and William Adams where he graduated in 1968. He was editor of the Yote Howl his senior year.

Among his school friends, Mark counted: Ralph Peterson, Henry Wooten, Ronnie Blount, Elsa May Crawford, Darrell Crisp, Clayton Hammock, James Holmgreen, Oscar Houchins, Earline Hutchison, Charles Kiser, Gary Lambert, Ronnie McCandless, Janie and Scotty McGill, Russell Moore, Susan Mumme, Milton Rennert, Gene Gobble, Mitchell and Michael Sens, Lance and Edna Monica (Sissy) Smith, Pete Weekly, Eugene Williams, Neal Williams, and Ronnie Winfield. Undoubtedly, there are many others Mark would include if he was writing this himself.

One of Mark’s favorite hobbies in high school was to take the long way home past Gardner Chevrolet so he could look at the new Corvettes, Camaros, Malibu SS’s, and Impala SS’s. This turned out to be a life-long hobby for him and later he developed a fondness for looking at new homes as well. Mark always liked to drive fast. He failed his first drivers test (too fast) and was involved in an auto accident (speeding) one week after getting his license.

After graduation, Mark attended Ambassador College, a seminary in East Texas. He graduated college in 1972 and was assigned to Dayton, Ohio to assist the local pastor there. (The first two cars he bought after college were a 68 Impala SS and a 70 GTO.) During his time in Dayton, Mark earned his master’s degree in European History at Wright State University. He spent 7 years in the ministry serving in Dayton, Fort Worth, Abilene, and Pasadena, California. When he left the ministry he moved to Arlington (between Dallas and Fort Worth) where he did a short stint as a petroleum land man. While working as a land man, Mark met and formed a partnership with a man from San Diego, California and they specialized in managing general partnerships in oil and gas wells.

In 1988 Mark married Ronda Dianne Decker and their son Alexander Gray Robinson was born in 1994. On the day Alex was born there was a massive earthquake in Southern California and Mark liked to tell people that God had announced Alexander’s coming with an earthquake. As of this writing, Alex is a junior at Notre Dame University.

At some point, Mark and Dianne formed a polygraph company called LaCosta Data Services, Inc. They also moved to Plano where they purchased a couple of homes with the last one near Gleneagles Country Club. As part of his daily routine, Mark took long walks in the neighborhoods around the country club and one day while on a walk right before Christmas of 2008, he collapsed and had to call for help. Although the initial diagnosis was pneumonia, it turned out he had a much more serious heart condition and needed a heart transplant. Mark died at Medical City Hospital in Dallas on February 1, 2009 at just about the moment the Steelers were scoring the winning touchdown in the Superbowl against the Cardinals.

Mark continues to be missed by family and friends. He was slow to anger, quick to pick up a tab, and he tried to please God in all that he did.

 



 
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07/10/14 09:30 AM #1    

Ava Gaither (Sloan) (1968)

Beautiful obituary! A life we should all aspire to!


07/10/14 10:35 AM #2    

Bonnie Smith (Whitley) (1968)

I was saddened to hear of Mark's death.  We haven't seen him since 1968.  I remember a quiet, kind, smart fellow.  The obituary points to a life well led with God at the helm.  Our condolences to his family and friends.

Bonnie Smith Whitley


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