Obituary for Mark Steven Fountain
Mark Fountain was born to a barefoot hillbilly in Huntington, W. Va. Dec. 7, 1954. Actually, we have it on good authority Mom had a pair of shoes, granddad having been a factory worker at the Owens-Illinois Corrugated plant. Think “All in The Family” but in the early 50’s. Uncle Jack had to get Mom to the hospital as Dad (a freshly minted 2nd “Lootenent” --think Andy Griffith in “No Time For Sergeants”) was off in Germany getting ready to go at it with the Godless Rooskies!
Thus begins the adventures of being military dependents. No complaints here--we just moved a lot. Normal for us was a new school every year until high school when Dad determined we would stay in one place while he did 3 remote Army schools and a 2nd trip to Vietnam. We both graduated from West Springfield High School, Springfield VA (Mark’72, Larry’74).
We haven’t been everywhere, but not for lack of trying. Let me give it a shot: Huntington, WVA, Nuremberg, Germany, Fort Wolters, TX, Fort Carson, CO, Fort Campbell, KY, West Palm Beach, FL (Capt. Fountain in Iran), Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Benning, GA, Fort Leavenworth, KS, Heidelberg, Germany, West Palm Beach again, (Maj. Fountain in Vietnam), Fort Rucker, AL, then off to Springfield, VA for our high school years while LtCol Fountain was off to schools-- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach FL, Army Logistics School, Fort Lee VA, (another trip to Vietnam…) and The Army War College in Carlisle PA.
Mark did a year at Northern Virginia Community College, then decided to broaden his horizons. He transferred to Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) in Shawnee OK beginning his multi-year journey through higher education. He completed his MA at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth TX and his PhD at Southern Seminary in Louisville KY.
Feeling slighted in the travel department, Mark meets (and eventually marries) this chick at OBU who happens to be the daughter of Southern Baptist missionaries to Taiwan. Her brothers are now spread all over Asia. Yup. More travels, but this time not on Uncle Sam’s schedule.
By the time Mark had finished his PhD, he and ‘the chick’ had accidentally put down roots in Louisville. He began adjunct teaching at Sullivan University and later became their full time ‘humanities mercenary’ teaching Ethics, World Religion, and his special love, Philosophy.
Mark is preceded in death by parents Charles and Nancy Fountain. He is survived by wife Sue Hogue Fountain, brother Larry (Judy) Fountain, and 6 nieces and nephews: Richard (Sarah) Fountain, Carole (Brad) Addona, Victor (Sara) Fountain, Carla Fountain, Raymond (Lizzy) Fountain, and Karen Fountain. He also has 5 grandnieces and grandnephews.
Visitation will be March 25 from 4:00-7:00 pm at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40205
Memorial service will be March 26 at 11:00 am at St Matthews Baptist Church, 3515 Grandview Avenue, Louisville, KY 40207
No flowers please. Expressions of sympathy may be donated to either of Mark’s two favorite charities:
World Vision https://www.worldvision.org/donate
Salvation Army Louisville https://www.salvationarmylouisville.org
Thus begins the adventures of being military dependents. No complaints here--we just moved a lot. Normal for us was a new school every year until high school when Dad determined we would stay in one place while he did 3 remote Army schools and a 2nd trip to Vietnam. We both graduated from West Springfield High School, Springfield VA (Mark’72, Larry’74).
We haven’t been everywhere, but not for lack of trying. Let me give it a shot: Huntington, WVA, Nuremberg, Germany, Fort Wolters, TX, Fort Carson, CO, Fort Campbell, KY, West Palm Beach, FL (Capt. Fountain in Iran), Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Benning, GA, Fort Leavenworth, KS, Heidelberg, Germany, West Palm Beach again, (Maj. Fountain in Vietnam), Fort Rucker, AL, then off to Springfield, VA for our high school years while LtCol Fountain was off to schools-- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach FL, Army Logistics School, Fort Lee VA, (another trip to Vietnam…) and The Army War College in Carlisle PA.
Mark did a year at Northern Virginia Community College, then decided to broaden his horizons. He transferred to Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) in Shawnee OK beginning his multi-year journey through higher education. He completed his MA at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth TX and his PhD at Southern Seminary in Louisville KY.
Feeling slighted in the travel department, Mark meets (and eventually marries) this chick at OBU who happens to be the daughter of Southern Baptist missionaries to Taiwan. Her brothers are now spread all over Asia. Yup. More travels, but this time not on Uncle Sam’s schedule.
By the time Mark had finished his PhD, he and ‘the chick’ had accidentally put down roots in Louisville. He began adjunct teaching at Sullivan University and later became their full time ‘humanities mercenary’ teaching Ethics, World Religion, and his special love, Philosophy.
Mark is preceded in death by parents Charles and Nancy Fountain. He is survived by wife Sue Hogue Fountain, brother Larry (Judy) Fountain, and 6 nieces and nephews: Richard (Sarah) Fountain, Carole (Brad) Addona, Victor (Sara) Fountain, Carla Fountain, Raymond (Lizzy) Fountain, and Karen Fountain. He also has 5 grandnieces and grandnephews.
Visitation will be March 25 from 4:00-7:00 pm at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40205
Memorial service will be March 26 at 11:00 am at St Matthews Baptist Church, 3515 Grandview Avenue, Louisville, KY 40207
No flowers please. Expressions of sympathy may be donated to either of Mark’s two favorite charities:
World Vision https://www.worldvision.org/donate
Salvation Army Louisville https://www.salvationarmylouisville.org