Lt. Col. Mark C. Jennings

JENNINGS Lt. Col. Mark C. Lt. Col. Mark C. Jennings, age 44, passed away on December 14, 2009, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Mark grew up in rural Ohio as an avid outdoorsman. He was most at home hunting, fishing and trapping the woods, rivers, creeks, ponds and lakes of the northwest part of his home state. At 14 years old he was the youngest bow hunter to bag a buck in that part of Ohio. As a young man he lettered in track and field, raced motorcycles and sailboats, water-skied, snow skied and later in life took up snowboarding. He loved life but most of all he loved his family, his friends, and his country. Mark was a true American hero. Earning a degree from Bowling Green State University in Aero Technology and Air Force ROTC, he earned a commission as Second Lieutenant. He then joined the Air Force to become a fighter pilot. After earning his wings at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, TX, Mark was sent to Eglin AFB, FL and trained with the Combat Hammer. After this assignment Mark was sent to F-16 training at Luke AFB, AZ and trained aggressively in the deserts of Arizona in preparation for his many missions over the deserts of Iraq. In addition to his fight against dictatorship and terror abroad, Mark flew on September 11 to patrol the skies defending against more possible terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. In Korea, Mark patrolled the no-fly-zone between the North and South from Kunsan, AB in South Korea - defending democracy from the threat of communist aggression. Before leaving active duty in the Air Force to join the Air Guard, Mark spent several years training the next generation of fighter pilots to fly the F-16. He also worked on the F-22 project for a short time while flying with the Texas Air National Guard at San Antonio, TX. Mark's exceptional abilities were recognized early in his career starting with "academic ace" in pilot training at Del Rio. He earned numerous Top Gun awards for his skill as a fighter pilot throughout his career and was highly decorated Lieutenant Colonel, currently serving in the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard at Atlantic City, NJ. After separating from the active duty Air Force, Mark went to work for Delta Airlines flying transatlantic routes to several European destinations and continued training and flying F-16s for the National Guard in New Jersey. On August 23, 2008, Mark married his wife, Captain Emily M. Locke and they settled down in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. They loved the outdoors and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. One of Mark's other passions was buying and fixing homes in the cities where he was stationed including Atlanta, Phoenix, and San Antonio. At one time he owned 5 homes around the country. It was in the loving care and maintenance of one such home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey that this country, that he so loved, lost one of its true, great heroes. Mark was struck down and killed by an automobile while trimming the trees of his front lawn. The senselessness of his death is matched only by brightness with which he shone. Mark is survived by his wife, Emily of Austin, TX; parents, Charles T. and Linda E. of Lambertville, Michigan; sister, Jodi Rozanski; brother, Chris (Stephanie) of Dallas, TX; mother-in-law, Linda Randall; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., (west of Corey Rd.) on Friday from 2 to 9 p.m. with a Scripture Service at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will begin with prayers at the funeral home on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. followed a Mass of the Resurrection at St. Joseph's in Sylvania, 5373 S. Main St., at 1 p.m. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com "The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long, and you have burned so very very brightly..."