Sybil C. Marks - Obituary

ybil Florence Combs Marks passed from this life on March 22, 2023. She was born on August 9, 1922 in Oklahoma where she spent her youth. While attending a wedding, she met the love of her life, a dashing paratroop officer, Mickey Marks, who was stationed in North Carolina after returning from World War II. They soon married, and began an odyssey Army life where Sybil was a devoted Army wife. Together they experienced stateside duty stations including North Carolina and Alaska where Sybil became an avid skier and learned that if a moose is in the driveway one leaves it alone. Overseas assignments included Japan, Germany and Panama. In Germany, she became very capable in the language and highly skilled driving on the Autobahn. Sybil kept the home fires burning during Mickey's combat duty in Korea and Vietnam. Amidst the various responsibilities which she had, she raised three children, occasionally as a geographical single mom when Mickey was deployed. At Christmas, her front door was decorated as a huge red package with white ribbon for many years. When their Army time reached retirement, they settled in Fayetteville, North Carolina almost within earshot of the evening cannon at Fort Bragg. There she became very involved in the Episcopal Church, including Bible study, Sunday school and altar guild. She also enjoyed her garden club and helped Mickey maintain their roses. After her beloved Mickey passed, she made her final move to the Knollwood retirement community in Washington DC. She enjoyed visits and always commented that she knew it was a "pain in the fanny" to drive there. She is survived by her son, Steven Marks and his wife, Teresa; her older daughter, Sharon Whisnand and her husband, Galen; and her younger daughter, Sally Webber and her husband, Donnie, and many grandchildren, step grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sybil was predeceased by her father and mother, Harry and Ruth Combs, her brother, Jack Combs and her dear husband, Major General Sidney M. (Mickey) Marks. The family appreciates the caregivers and staff at Knollwood who assisted her. She enjoyed being near the nurse's station which was the hub of activity. Sybil's faith was strong. She was certain that she would join her Lord Jesus Christ and her husband Mickey in Heaven. We are sure they are together again. Sybil will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.