Mark Thomas Lamkin born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on March 23, 1943 passed away peacefully from this life to eternal life at the age of 77 on September 12, 2020 at his home in Southlake after a short battle with cancer.
He was preceded in death by his father Clarence Mark Lamkin, his mother Lois Thomas Lamkin, and his sister Michelle Lamkin Dunn. Mark is interred at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
Mark is survived by his wife Anita Lamkin of Southlake, Texas and his son Scott Thomas Lamkin and daughter-in-law Margrette Lamkin of Vista, California.
Mark lived in Hot Springs until the age of 9 when he moved to Fort Worth then to Arlington. He attended Travis Avenue Baptist Church as a child. He now belongs to Compass Christian Church in Colleyville. He graduated from Arlington High School and the University of Texas at Arlington. In college he was a member of the Sam Houston Rifles, a competitive precision military drill team where he was the commander in 1964. He was chosen Best Drilled ROTC Cadet four times. Mark was commissioned in 1966 where he served as a Company Commander at Ft. Hood, Texas with the 2nd Armored Division.
In 1974 Mark started Mark T. Lamkin & Associates, Inc., a home building business specializing in custom homes. He built over 200 homes in Arlington, Fort Worth and mid-cities area. He also was a licensed real estate broker. After retiring from home building in 2002, Mark started Lamkin Construction Consulting. He was involved in several commercial and multi-family residential construction projects. Some of his honors and achievements include: Director-UTA Alumni Association, President of the Sertoma Club, Rookie of the Year at Metropolitan Life, Director of Theater Arlington, and “Big Producer” of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate.
Mark was known for telling stories, some over and over again. His favorite story was about a red 1955 Chevrolet his father sold him. He drove it 1966 while he was at Ft. Hood. Sometime in the 1990s someone saw his name on the title and told him where to find it. There was nothing left but the frame. Of course, he had to have it. Fully restored, he enjoyed driving it and won several show trophies.
Mark was married to his college sweetheart Anita for 55 years. They were best friends and devoted to one another. Not only did Anita work with Mark in his home building business, they shared many recreational adventures including scuba diving, dirt bike riding and water skiing at their Possum Kingdom lake home. Mark rode a Harley and Anita was the passenger. They rode in Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, South Dakota and Arizona. Mark was outgoing and like to make people laugh. He was an encouragement to his friends and they felt better after spending time with him.
Mark loved his family. He and Anita have a son Scott Thomas Lamkin. Mark shared his love of 4 wheels and a motor with Scott starting with a go kart at age 7 and a new Corvette at 16. Mark taught him to ride dirt bikes and to water ski. Mark taught him not just pleasure activities; but also how to build custom homes with a strong work ethic. He always said Scott had surpassed his ability. He was delighted with and loved Margrette, Scott’s wife. Since they lived in California, he could not spend as much time with them and he wanted. They touched him deeply.
Mark will forever be in our hearts and his family misses him every day.
He is at home now with the Lord.
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