James Markov

1938 - 2025

James Markov

August 28, 1938 - September 8, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina - James Donovan (Jim) Markov, 87, died September 8, 2025. He was born August 28, 1938, in Akron, Ohio. Jim graduated from Akron Central High School where he played baseball and basketball and was elected President of the National Honor Society and VP of his class. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1961 from the University of Akron where he served as President of the Student Body, was elected to Sigma Tau Engineering and Omicron Delta Kappa honorary societies, and served as VP of Pi Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Jim received the University "A-Key" and was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Following graduation from the University of Akron, he married Mary Jeanne Flavin on August 5, 1961, and began a 31-year career with IBM. Six months after their wedding, Jim was called into service with the US Army and served 3 years as a First Lieutenant Ordnance Officer at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. After training, he was assigned as an instructor of Hawk and Nike air defense missiles. Assigned to the Officer's Training Branch, he trained NATO and SEATO officers for the Navy, Army, and Air Force. During that time, he earned a Master of Science Degree in Engineering from the University of Alabama at Huntsville. Mary and Jim had two children during this time, James David Markov, and Karen Markov Beesley, who survive him.

In 1969 the family moved to Raleigh, NC where their third child, Michael Todd Markov, who predeceased him, was born. Jim worked on the development of several products for IBM while enjoying the strong community he helped to build as a member of the Recreation Board of Directors in Oak Park. He retired in 1992, and in the years that followed, his extended family grew to include two grandchildren, Samuel Alexander Beesley, and Erin Elizabeth Beesley, who survive him.

Jim was an active member of his Wildwood Green community and enjoyed golfing and socializing with many good friends whose presence in his life, forged through acts of service and kindness, deepened over the last 30 years. Jim loved babies and children, Broadway plays, and the Cleveland Browns, but above all, Jim was an avid golfer who loved the fresh air and beauty of the many courses he enjoyed.

Jim was also heavily involved in the Unity Church of the Triangle, where he served on the Board and he and Mary participated in book studies, educational events, and gathered a wide circle of close friends.

In addition to his significant career achievements, Jim leaves us with a legacy of honor, ethics, and kindness to neighbors and friends. He will be missed by many. His memorial service is on Friday, October 17th, at 4:00 at Unity of the Triangle: 5570 Munford Rd., Raleigh NC.