In Memory

Mark Elbow

Mark Edward Elbow

OCTOBER 9, 1951 – MAY 31, 2019

Phoenix, Arizona – Mark Edward Elbow passed away on May 31, 2019 from complications following brain surgery.

Mark was born on Oct. 9, 1951, in Evansville, Indiana, to Paul and Joan Elbow, the third of seven children. With his family, Mark lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan; Pueblo, Colorado; Escanaba, Michigan; Bloomington, Illinois, and Hampton, Illinois.

He graduated from United Township High School in East Moline, Illinois, in 1969.

At the age of 17, Mark enlisted in the Air Force, serving honorably during the Vietnam War in Thailand as an aircraft mechanic and earning a number of commendations and awards.

After his military discharge in 1973 Mark continued his education at Illinois State University and Southern Illinois University, where he studied history and aviation technology.

While attending college, Mark worked as a combine repairman at John Deere in East Moline and as a transport officer at Illinois State University before embarking on a career as an airline mechanic, working at Britt Airways in Bloomington, Illinois, and America West Airlines in Tempe, Arizona. Over his more than a decade at America West, Mark gained proficiency in all facets of aircraft maintenance and repair, eventually overseeing aircraft inspection and managing quality control.

Mark’s career was cut short by physical illness and other life challenges in the late 90s, after which he was forced to live on disability. He resided at Palazzo Assisted Living in Phoenix at the time of his death.

Mark was known for his dry humor, his love of books and an abiding work ethic. He will be deeply missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Christine. He is survived by his loving life partner of many years, Ann Shook, his siblings -- Dave (Linda) Elbow, Anchorage, Alaska, Valerie (Bruce) Johnston, San Antonio, Texas, Kent (Kannikar) Elbow, Madison, Wisconsin, Brian Elbow, Fort Worth, Texas, Mary Kate Elbow, Madison, Wisconsin, and Steven (Heather Green) Elbow, Madison, Wisconsin -- many nieces and nephews and his ex-wife Vicky.

He had three children who were adopted by loving families: Zachary Carr, Bloomington, Illinois, Meghan (Carr) Nibbelin, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Kelly (Miller) Jones, Peoria, Illinois.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/phoenix-az/mark-elbow-8733592







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