COLUMBUS

Mark Jay Stocks, 62, of Columbus, passed away at 4:58 a.m. on February 20, 2019, at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility in Columbus.

Born December 31, 1956, in Valparaiso, he was the son of Vernon Shelby and Barbara Ellen (Betts) Stocks.

Mr. Stocks was a 1975 graduate of La Porte High School in La Porte, and a 1980 graduate of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso with a degree in arts and music. He was a member of the AARP and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Columbus. Mr. Stocks had worked for Aisin in Seymour and with Hisada America Auto Parts in Edinburgh. He enjoyed dancing to country western music, golf, NHL and NFL games, music, singing, acting, playing softball, making pizza, and raising registered dogs.

He is survived by his brothers, Dave (Rhonda) Stocks of North Vernon and Thomas “Wings”(Ani) Stocks of Bandon, Oregon; his lifelong best friends that he considered to be siblings, Kim (JoAnn) Renz of Illinois and Kathy (Rick) Ruffolo of Bloomingdale, Illinois; nieces and nephews, Tricia (Steve) Mintner of Newburg, Dawn Stocks and April (Andy) Schultz, both of Evansville, KC Stocks and Brett (Eugenia) Stocks, both of California, and Shawn (Alex) Kidwell and Ryan (Cheyenne) Kidwell, both of North Vernon; and sixteen great nieces and great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service for Mr. Stocks will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Columbus with the Reverend Marc Vance officiating. Family and friends may call at the church on Thursday, February 28, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at Carmel Cemetery in La Porte on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. CST. Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North Vernon.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to the Arthritis National Research Foundation.