William B Marks, Jr.
June 13, 1931 - January 11, 2018

William Brydon Marks, Jr. passed away peacefully Thursday, January 11, 2018, after a short battle with cancer. Known as Bill or Billy to his friends, he was born in Richmond, Virginia, June 13, 1931, the son and only child of William B. Marks, Sr. and Margaret Briggs Marks. He attended John Marshall High School in Richmond where he was a member of the Cadet Corps, and went on to graduate from R.P.I., now Virginia Commonwealth University, with a degree in Business Administration.
Bill was a Navy veteran who served during the Korean Conflict attached to the Navy Amphibian Unit at Little Creek, Virginia. For sixteen years he was employed by Anvil Brand, Inc., clothing manufacturers, where he worked in merchandising, management, and sales. Eleven of those years He and his wife, Doswell Belfield Marks and their children lived in Atlanta where he traveled extensively throughout the south and the U.S.
In 1971 he returned with his family to Virginia to join his father as owner and operator of Marks and Sullivan Department Store in Kilmarnock, Virginia, and bought his home on the Rappahannock River in Tappahannock. The Marks family is proud to say that Marks and Sullivan was a landmark for over sixty years, outfitting many generations in the Northern Neck and helping people in need.
Bill Marks was a longtime member of the Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club, and Beale Memorial Baptist Church. For ten years after his retirement he was a part-time employee of Robert E. Lee’s home, Stratford Hall Plantation, working at the gate and Visitors Center in customer services. Guests at Stratford Hall will remember his warm smile, greetings, and wealth of information. Bill often said it was the most fun job he ever had.
Bill loved history, visiting historical places, boating on the river, the open sea, the Atlanta Braves, his dog, Candy, and carrying Doswell’s shopping bags. For three years he faithfully cared for his wife, Doswell, as her health failed, and never left her side.
Bill is predeceased by his wife, Doswell Belfield Marks, and his youngest daughter, Margaret Lynn Marks. He is survived by his daughter, Yvonne Marks Dodson (Bill) of Gloucester, Virginia, and son Ralph Alfred Marks (Ellen) of Vallejo, California; Grandchildren, Jason Hodges, Kimberly Hodges, David Simpson, Zachary Dodson (Michelle), Jessica Parr (Nick), Brydon Marks, and McKenzie Marks (Stacey); Great Grandchildren, Aedin and Ashli Vincent, Caleb and Joshua Marks, and most recently Jackson Parr and Benjamin Marks; and his precious Pomeranian, Candy.
At Bill’s request, there will be a simple graveside service 1:00 p. m. Monday, January15, 2018 at Forrest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond, where he will be buried beside his wife and parents.
Currie Funeral Home handled the arrangements.