Mark O. Wirtz

Mark O. Wirtz (1955–2025): A Life Lived Full Throttle

Mark O. Wirtz, born October 22, 1955, in Enid, Oklahoma, rode off into the sunset on August 15, 2025, leaving a trail of laughter, family and friends, and a life lived faster than a Texas speed limit. Mark didn't just live-he attacked life like it was a racetrack with no finish line.

Raised in Enid, Mark was tinkering with anything that had wheels before he could drive. By 14, he'd already snagged his first Harley Davidson, because why walk when you can roll? After graduating from Enid High School, he hightailed it to Texas to join his brothers, George and Kim, chasing bigger horizons. He tried on a few jobs and attended college, but found his sweet spot at Vinylex Corporation in Carrollton, Texas, where he worked for 33 years, retiring as Customer Service Manager. Mark and Deborah met in Carrollton in 1976, moving to Denton in 1982 to raise their girls near Deborah's family.

To his grandchildren-Morgan Durham of Conroe, Texas; Michael Durham, his wife Jessica, and their daughter Callie of St. Hedwig, Texas; and Garrett and Logan Paisley-he was "Grandfather," the guy who taught them how to burn rubber in a go-kart and play a mean game of darts. He's survived by his wife, Deborah Sue Allen Wirtz, his pit boss of 48 years, and daughters Rachel Durham of Fulshear, Texas, and Deserea Wirtz Paisley of Houston, Texas, along with their husbands, Kevin Durham (deceased) and Jeremy Paisley. His brothers, George Wirtz of Fort Worth and Kim Wirtz of Allen, Texas, plus a crew of nieces and nephews, will keep his legend revving.

Kevin Durham, Mark's late son-in-law, is waiting up there with a red Solo cup in one hand and a fishing pole in the other.

A scrapper to the core, Mark faced heart disease since 1996 but never let it put him in the slow lane. He loved fast cars, music from The Rolling Stones to the Everly Brothers, and hosting friends to watch football every Sunday.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Heart Association-Mark's heart was big, even if it had to work overtime to keep up with his hustle.

Here's to Mark Wirtz: a man who lived like he was late for a car show, fought like a scrapper to keep doing what he loved, and left us all wishing we could've taken one more lap around the track with him. As Jay Leno might say, "He's probably up there now, trying to convince the angels to trade in their halos for handlebars." Carry on, good man.