Allison Glenda Marks

Allison Marks, 79, of Escondido, Calif., passed away peacefully on August 28, 2018 after battling several very aggressive forms of cancer. She spent her last days resting and visiting with family in the comfort of home.

“Allison Glenda Robb” was born on November 29, 1938 in Eureka, Calif., where she was raised by her mother and grandparents. She met her older and only sibling Jannis for the first time when she was six years old. Jannis had been interned in a prison camp in the Philippines during WWII. Their father, James Robb, was also interned in a prison camp but did not survive. Twelve-year-old Jannis returned to her remaining family in California in 1944 and the sisters met for the first time. It was the beginning of a lifelong bond that continued until the very end. Both were thrilled to have discovered a sister and they accumulated an abundance of memories as their families gathered and children grew up over the years.

After high school, Allison first attended San Jose State University before transferring to Cal State Northridge following marriage to her husband of over 50 years Raymond Marks. After having two children, she started her career as a teacher. She later went on to earn a Master’s degree and became a Special Education counselor for mainstreamed students with special needs in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Following a career that spanned over 35 years in which she dedicated herself to meeting the needs of her students, she retired in the late 90’s and moved with Ray, a professional artist, to San Diego to start the next phase of their lives. They discovered a beautiful neighborhood in the San Pasqual Valley where they settled in for their golden years. They enjoyed many years in the valley together before Ray suddenly passed away in 2010.

Allison loved the community she became a part of for the balance of her life. She had wonderful friends and neighbors who kept her active, engaged and busy with gatherings, book clubs, lunch bunches, and landscape committee activities. She also stayed in touch and spent time with dear friends from her working years and those she met in her years of traveling the world. She continued her love of travel, reading, gardening, debate, wine tasting, theater and keeping up with current events well into 2018. She particularly enjoyed being active in politics, often working tirelessly to register voters in the Escondido area as she believed everyone should exercise their right to vote. She also volunteered for campaigns and was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in two recent years.

Allison was proceeded in death by her husband Raymond F. Marks. She is survived by her children Raymond Marks (Cristina) of Folsom and Janine Marks Nixon (Brandon) of San Diego; grandchildren Nathan and Desiree Marks and Cameron and Corinne Nixon; sister Jannis Garred of Roseville and nieces Julie Gander of Roseville and Joni Raymond of Grass Valley; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Normand and Becky Marks of Pendleton, Ore., cousins Richard Nelson of Wildomar and Russel Nelson of Ojai, and many beloved extended family members.

As her dear sister recently told her, “We had a good run, sis.” Indeed, she did and she will be dearly missed as our hearts go on without her.

In lieu of flowers, Allison’s favorite charity is Interfaith Community Services, www.interfaithservices.org. Please give in honor or memory of Allison Marks.

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, September 10 at 11 a.m. at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego CA 92121. Reception to follow.