Mark R. Charlton
On Feb. 1, 2020, Mark Rolen Charlton, an amazing and loving husband and Poppa, went to be with our Lord, at the age of 65.
Mark was a man of God. God created a loving, caring and compassionate man, a man who cared about others, always trying to put them first. He worked hard and cared passionately about other people whether they were strangers or loved ones.
Mark was born in September 1954 in the Spokane, Washington, area and was the rock for his mother and siblings. He was married to the love of his life, Janet, for 45 years. He was a loving husband, totally devoted to his wife, always accepting her as she was and supporting her. He had her back and he was so very proud of her. He was a wonderful father, who raised his children by example. He would praise their accomplishments and carry them through their trials. Mark wanted his five children to succeed, he wanted them to always search, question and push to be the best that they could be.
One of his greatest gifts to Janet and the children was providing the opportunity for Janet to stay at home to raise their family. There was always room in the Charlton home, and many friends and family members stayed with them over the years and are now family.
Mark served in the U.S. Army from December 1972 to February 1988, including time spent in the National Guard reserves while attending nursing school. He joined the U.S. Public Health Service in February 1988 and retired as a Commissioned Officer in May 1999.
As a nurse, Mark provided the best and most up-to-date care for every patient. He was constantly learning. His formal education includes a bachelor of science in nursing from Eastern Washington University, masters of public health promotion and education from Loma Linda University, and a masters of science in nursing, family nurse practitioner, from Gonzaga University.
His nursing career included several years at SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital, around the late 1990s,
He had an unquenchable desire to learn and put what he learned into practice. He truly loved the practice of nursing medicine. He continued his work as a nurse practitioner up until his death.
Mark’s hobbies included fishing, driving his convertible, traveling, watching all the Star Trek series, walking his dog Echo.
He especially loved to visit his grandkids or take them on adventures and camping, fixing old pinball machines or anything really. Mark had an amazing laugh and loved comedy movies. His regrets were very few but may have included eating Costco hotdogs.
In Mark’s final days, he shared a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King on social media. Dr. King wrote on the parable of the Good Samaritan, “I imagine that the first question the priest and Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”
This particular quote is fitting as Mark always stopped to help anyone and never seemed concerned with what would happen to him. “We were honored to walk beside Mark and are grateful he will be watching over us always,” his family wrote.
Mark’s survivors include his wife, of Clarkson, Washington, and his five adult children and grandchildren.
A memorial mass was said for Mark at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church on Feb. 6, 2020. His final resting place will be at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W. Espanola Road in Medical Lake, Washington. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations, in Mark’s name, to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
