Birth date: Mar 6, 1944 Death date: Dec 1, 2025
Mark R. Probst, 80 of Ocean View DE, formerly of Gaithersburg, MD passed away on December 1, 2025. He was born in Washington State on March 6, 1945, one of two sons of Bob and Helen Probst. Mark lived in Richmond VA from 1945 to Read Obituary
I will always remember Mark, his smile and his sense of humor. He was a wonderful person, whose example we should all strive and be proud of.
Mark was my little brother – not the image of the pesky little brother – but the brother I played with, went to school and church with and participated in sports with. We even shared our birthdays – both born on March 6 two years apart. And we were both born on the West Coast during World War II, where our Dad’s Virginia reserve unit was stationed to defend the US coast.
Family was an important part of our youth. Mom and Dad were both born in Richmond, VA, and we returned there after the war ended in 1945. Our family moved into one of those post war bungalows that popped up everywhere. All of our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins lived in the Richmond area. Family gatherings were regular events. The most memorable were annual vacations in a rental cottage on the Rappahannock River with my aunt and 2 cousins. We honed our swimming, rowing and crabbing skills and played lots of hearts and canasta. We even got to sleep on the screened porch when more guests were there.
Our Dad’s father, our “Gampa”, loved fishing in the Shenandoah. He and his youngest son, uncle Page, would spend 2 weeks in late summer camped and fishing along the river. His 4 grandsons got to join the trip once they turned 13. Cousin Jack was the oldest and went first. Cousin Drury and I came a few years later and a second tent was added. Mark came the next year at 12 because of concern that Gampa wouldn’t make many more years. These trips made memories that last to this day. Gampa did make it several more years.
Mark and I both loved and participated in sports. Mark, however inherited all our Dad’s athletic abilities. By the time I earned a starting position in high school football as a senior, Mark was starting in baseball and football as a sophomore! This plus his academic efforts led to athletic and academic scholarships at UVA. He played football and baseball for several years before focusing on his engineering studies.
We went our separate ways after college – Mark with a Master of Engineering from UVA, and I with a BS in Engineering from VA Tech. We stayed in touch over the years but often many miles apart.
Mark was a great little brother!
Tom Probst
Glen Allen, VA
Mark and I played racquetball for about 20 years and skied together. He was kind as well as competitive.
When I think of Mark, a word that comes to mind is: Dependable. That applies to both mundane matters and much more meaningful situations.
Anyone who ventured onto a racquetball court with Mark could depend upon the fact that they were facing a tough opponent.
People who create crossword puzzles could depend upon knowing that Mark was likely to successfully complete the one on which he was working
When Mark and Marylee visited my family’s lakeside cabin in Maine and the rest of us who were there went hiking, Mark usually chose to remain behind. The excuse he gave us for not joining in was to guard the dock and make sure no one stole it. We could depend upon the fact that no one would.
We also could depend upon Mark cooking flank steak for dinner with a sauce he concocted. He labeled the bottle containing it “Phlank Sauce,” but the story about why is too long to relate here.
I am very unmechanical and when I was trying – unsuccessfully -- to do something mechanical while Mark was nearby, I could depend upon his offering to help, to do so and then gradually -- and thankfully -- completely taking over and completing the task.
Mark did not talk a lot but when he did, you could depend upon the fact that what he was saying was well worth listening to.
Given the phrase “still waters run deep,” those who knew Mark could depend upon knowing that behind his quiet façade resided deep emotions.
That was especially true for Marylee, who adored Mark and whom he adored back.
Mark, you are loved and missed.
Victor Block
When I think of Mark, a word that comes to mind is: Dependable. That applies to both mundane matters and much more meaningful situations.
Anyone who ventured onto a racquetball court with Mark could depend upon the fact that they were facing a tough opponent.
People who create crossword puzzles could depend upon knowing that Mark was likely to successfully complete the one on which he was working
When Mark and Marylee visited my family’s lakeside cabin in Maine and the rest of us who were there went hiking, Mark usually chose to remain behind. The excuse he gave us for not joining in was to guard the dock and make sure no one stole it. We could depend upon the fact that no one would.
We also could depend upon Mark cooking flank steak for dinner with a sauce he concocted. He labeled the bottle containing it “Phlank Sauce,” but the story about why is too long to relate here.
I am very unmechanical and when I was trying – unsuccessfully -- to do something mechanical while Mark was nearby, I could depend upon his offering to help, to do so and then gradually -- and thankfully -- completely taking over and completing the task.
Mark did not talk a lot but when he did, you could depend upon the fact that what he was saying was well worth listening to.
Given the phrase “still waters run deep,” those who knew Mark could depend upon knowing that behind his quiet façade resided deep emotions.
That was especially true for Marylee, who adored Mark and whom he adored back.
Mark, you are loved and missed.
Victor Block
Mark was always a gentleman. You could see the smile in his eyes before you would see it on his mouth. Whether you knew him for many years or just a few days, it was easy to know that he was a wonderful person, simply by appreciating that he was married to beautiful MaryLee.
With Love,
Eileen Bennett
