Mark Anthony Charles

Born in Washington, Indiana, to Helen and Carl Charles, Mark was the youngest of four children. During his childhood, his family spent time in South Bend, Indiana, and Troy, Michigan, before attending high school in Newtown, Connecticut, where he starred on the basketball team. He went on to attend the University of Connecticut before transferring and graduating Summa Cum Laude in Accounting and Finance from Hillsdale College.

In the winter of 1979, dressed in a reindeer ski sweater and sporting a black eye from a hard foul in a recreational basketball game hours earlier, Mark met Jill Truskey of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who became the love of his life. Their meeting in a Steak & Ale in Richmond, Virginia, led to a marriage on January 2, 1982, and to two children and three grandchildren.

A certified accountant, he enjoyed a varied career in telecommunications and start-ups, leading to a number of relocations in Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida, before ultimately settling in the greater New Orleans area for the past 25 years. A dedicated son, Mark greatly enjoyed spending time with his parents, who joined his relocations to both Florida and Louisiana, where they lived out the rest of their days.

Mark was, above all, a loyal family man who cared deeply and invested his time and efforts to support his loved ones. This extended even to his decision to forgo supporting Notre Dame athletics in favor of his daughter’s alma mater, LSU. His gentle and kind character was evident to anyone in his proximity. He was equipped with quick wit and humor, a trait that contributed to his long-lasting marriage of over 42 years. His later life was filled with time well spent with his family, his beloved pets, Evelyn and Phoebe, and in his yard, where he treated his neighbors to a daily symphony of a Troy-Bilt CS4265 mulcher. He will be profoundly missed and remembered.

Mark is survived by his beloved wife, Jill Truskey Charles; his children Dan (Sarah) and Jenna (Will); and grandchildren Clark, Finn, and Henry. He is also survived by his siblings, Earl, Carl, and Paul.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at Grace Funeral Home, 450 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, LA 70433, on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow the services at St. Lazarus of Bethany Memorial Garden Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Mark may be made to Companion Animal Alliance in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Donations can be made at https://www.caabr.org/.