It is with heavy hearts that Mark Coiner Polk's family announces his passing on December 4, 2023 in Richmond Hill, GA, at age 85. Mark was born on April 23, 1938 in Moore's Store, Shenandoah County, Virginia to parents Mark Kendall Polk and Gladys Ruth Kerlin Polk.

Mark is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 41 years, Dianne Cromwell Polk. He is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Beveridge and husband, Stephen; three grandchildren, Esther, Charles and Samuel Beveridge; and his sister, Ruth Kerlin Sigler.

Mark's photographic memory for numbers served him well throughout the 47 years he worked at the Newport News Shipyard as a cost engineer, after graduating from the Apprentice School. He also graduated from Triplett High School in Mount Jackson, Virginia. In his valedictorian speech, he spoke of the type of person we all should be – the practical one who lives each day as it is, always trying to make it better and more successful than the day before. And that is how he lived his life, choosing to be happy, practical, and always seeing the positive, always striving to be his best. Mark was a humble and soft-spoken man who always had a friendly and agreeable disposition, even when he was being stubborn.

Mark had many hobbies and interests that kept him busy throughout his life. He was an avid runner, running marathons to Williamsburg nearly every weekend; he enjoyed playing tennis with his daughter and tennis buddies; he was always working on his many cars; and he took frequent trips to Nags Head, North Carolina with his cousin and best friend Billy Joe Tisinger. Most of all though, Mark loved to laugh - it brought joy to everyone around him!

Services will be private, and arrangements are under the care of Richmond Hill Funeral Home. Those interested in making a donation in Mark's honor may do so to the Peninsula SPCA.