Paul Camp Marks
Published 3:29 pm Wednesday, April 10, 2013
FRANKLIN—Paul Douglas Camp Marks, 88, died peacefully April 10, 2013 at his home in Franklin. He was born October 2, 1924 in Boykins, Va., the oldest son of the late Robert F. Marks and Texie Camp Marks. Paul attended public schools in Boykins followed by Woodberry Forest School and then the Virginia Military Institute. Paul left VMI during his Rat year to begin army training. He served during World War II in Europe as part of the 1st Infantry Division. He saw action at the Remagen Bridge and the Battle of the Bulge. He received a commission as a Second Lieutenant, and was Aide-de-Camp for the Division Commander. Immediately after the war ended, he assisted in the security effort at the Nuremberg War Crime Trials.
Paul was a retired farmer and an avid hunter and fisherman. He was the last living charter member of the Indiantown Hunt Club in Capron, which he and several friends founded in 1946. He loved hunting quail, deer, and turkey, and he also loved to fish on the Nottoway River. After his retirement, he and Joan traveled thousands of miles in their travel trailer, visiting Alaska, the Big Bend area of Texas, the northern plains of the United States, and several provinces in Canada. These passions, along with his outgoing personality, helped him make and maintain friends from far and wide. He was a member of the Capron Ruritan Club and the Capron United Methodist Church. He served on the Southampton County School Board, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Windsor REA for 50 years. He was also on the boards of the Ruth Camp Campbell Foundation, the Camp-Younts Foundation, and the Camp Foundation.
Paul is survived by his wife, Joan Loftin Marks, of Franklin, and a sister, Frances Marks Parker, of Wilmington, N.C. He is also survived by six children: Paul Douglas Camp (Doug) Marks, Jr. and his wife, Janet, of Columbia, S.C.; Linda Marks Mosley of Franklin; John Robert Marks and his wife, Margaret of Franklin; Nancy Marks Brewbaker and her husband, Robert, of Franklin; Jo Ann Marks Trethaway and her husband, Scott, of Clemmons, N.C. and Texie Camp Marks of Capron.
He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Paul was fortunate to have a huge and loving extended family, including three stepchildren, Richard Laurence Drescher (Christine), John Dyer Drescher, and Charles Edward Drescher (Amy). In addition, his family includes ten step grandchildren and six step great-grandchildren, an abundance of cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends from across the country. He and his former wife, Frances S. Marks, of Franklin, remained close friends. In addition to his parents, Paul was predeceased by his beloved brother, Robert F. (Bobby) Marks, Jr.
The family will receive visitors at The Village at Woods Edge on Friday, April 12 from 7-8:30 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, at High Street United Methodist Church in Franklin. The committal of ashes will occur at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts may be made to the Capron United Methodist Church, Capron, VA 23829, or to a favorite charity. Wright Funeral Home is assisting the family. www.wrightfuneralhome.org.