John Stevens Van De Mark

John Stevens Van De Mark passed away peacefully on Tuesday, the 31st of August 2010, at the age of 84. He was born in Houston, Texas on the 10th of January 1926, the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. John Van Etten Van De Mark.

John grew up in Houston and attended high school at Schreiner Institute in Kerrville, Texas, graduating in 1942. Thereafter, he enrolled at Rice Institute. While at Rice Institute, he joined the Naval ROTC program and in February 1945 was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy. Shortly after commissioning, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet in the Pacific as a gunnery officer where he saw combat at the Battle of Okinawa in April-May 1945. After the war, John returned to Rice Institute, graduating with a B.A. in 1947. He subsequently attended law school for a period at the University of Texas at Austin before moving to Dallas, Texas, to begin his career in the insurance business. He remained in the U.S. Naval Reserves for many years after the war, attaining the rank of Commander before he retired.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Ellen Ferguson Van De Mark, and by his brother, Scott MacGregor Van De Mark. Mr. Van De Mark is survived by his three children, Jane Ferguson Van De Mark of Fort Worth, Texas, Brian Stevens Van De Mark of Annapolis, Maryland, and Craig MacGregor Van De Mark of Houston, Texas, and his wife Christine, and by his two grandchildren, Grey Van De Mark of Boston, Massachusetts, and Mia Chase Van De Mark of Houston, Texas.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 7th of September, at First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street in Houston.

Prior to the memorial service, the family will have gathered for a private interment ceremony at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those who desire, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions in his name be directed to the General Scholarship Fund at Rice University, Office of Development, Mail Stop 81, Post Office Box 1892, Houston, TX, 77251-1892; or to the charity of one’s choice.