Mark Andrew Sissons Jr.

1929 - 2021

Mark Andrew Sissons Jr.

February 7, 1929 - November 30, 2021

Mark Andrew Sissons Jr., 92, of Charlottesville, went to be with the Lord, his wife, and daughter on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at Martha Jefferson Hospital of Charlottesville.

Mark was born on Saturday, February 7, 1929, in Quincy, Massachusetts. He was the first of two sons born to Mark and Mildred Sissons of Sea Street in Hough's Neck, Massachusetts.

Mark grew up in a military family. As a result of his father's Naval career, his family lived in Massachusetts, Panama, and San Diego, California. Once in 1939, when his father was transferred to San Diego, Mark and his mom traveled cross-country from Quincy, Massachusetts. They kept a journal with entries like "hotel in Yellowstone was $2.50 for the night."

He attended various schools across the country. He was attending Boy's Latin school in Boston when he dropped out late 1945 to follow in his father's footsteps and enlist in the United States Navy. His enlistment started him on a 42 year journey that included his favorite station in Key West. He served four years active duty and 38 years in the Naval Reserve. Training in the Navy as an air traffic controller led him to his eventual career, although that was not his intention. He originally wanted to be a schoolteacher. He used his GI bill to get a degree in education from Suffolk University. Shortly, thereafter the newly formed FAA called and he was directed to go to Washington, D.C. to be an air traffic controller.

During his time in school he met the love of his life, Naomi Tully and they wed in May of 1955. Naomi and Mark moved across the country as Mark's career took them to Queens, N.Y., North Babylon, N.Y., Lindenhurst, N.Y., Oklahoma City, Okla., Mustang, Okla., Burnt Hills, N.Y., finally settling in Charlottesville in 1977. Along the way they had six children and many, many memories.

Mark was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Naomi; his parents; and tragically by his eldest daughter, Karen Jean in 1975. He is survived by his brother, Chris Sissons (Jane), and five adult children, Kathleen Anne Sissons Tomlin (Bennett) of Virginia Beach, and Lisa Groover Sissons of Austin Texas, Mark Andrew Sissons (Pamela) of Queensbury, N.Y., Stephen Cameron Sissons (Blair) of Charlotte, N.C., and Matthew Paul Sissons of Charlottesville. Also surviving are nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Mark was an active member of the Church of the Incarnation since 1977. He was also active in many civic organizations, including the Knights of Columbus and Civitan. Services will be held Thursday, December 9, 2021, at the Church of the Incarnation in Charlottesville. Visitors can attend a viewing at 1 p.m. in the Church's Daily Mass Chapel, followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. Interment at Holly Memorial Gardens will immediately follow the ceremony.

Condolences can be sent to the family at www.hillandwood.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Civitan and to combat Alzheimer's can be made in his remembrance, https://civitan.org/donate/.