Mark A. Lucas

In the early hours of January 17 Mark Alan Lucas (63), beloved by so many, peacefully left this world and went on to his rest. The months leading up to his passing had been an exhausting run with an unexpected diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer only eight months earlier. He is survived by Gina, his wife of 43 years, sons Alex of Lebanon, Thomas (Bailee) of Indianapolis, and daughter Megan Magee (Charles) of Zionsville, brother J. Steve Lucas of Connecticut, grandson Samuel Lucas, and multiple grand-fur-kids. A native of Lebanon, Mark Alan was born February 16, 1961, to John Henry and Ruth (Thomas) Lucas at the city’s old Witham hospital. In 1979 upon graduating from LHS he set out on a career path hoping to see the world beyond this familiar place. His enlistment in the US Navy was a decision that sent him to far flung places both stateside and abroad over the next two decades. While serving he earned a Medical Technology degree at George Washington University. His penchant for service famously predated his military career. From early on, Lucas (as he was known to classmates) was keenly interested in details and was a voracious reader and learner. Always on the lookout for ways he could either fix or improve things, or help out those around him, he took on various roles starting in junior high school when he was a shop in the archaic basement of the school. In high school, though he didn’t mind freshman football, Mark found his calling as an athletic trainer. He studied the nuances of the job, stepped up, and quickly became the go-to for three sports. These were the days when summer conditioning called for the dreaded two-a-days, and his skillful tape-jobs protected sore spots and prevented further damage, ultimately inspiring his career track. Early fall of 1981, the young sailor’s life changed course while attending a Purdue Toga party hosted by two high school buddies. There, he met a fascinating coed named Gina Perugini. Immediately smitten, yet lacking the communicative ease afforded to today’s romantics, the pair began an exchange of letters and telephone calls. While home over Christmas, the couple met up again, and she agreed to come to Bethesda for a few days before classes resumed in West Lafayette. As luck would have it, or perhaps as cupid saw best, by the end of their visit, all return flights were cancelled due to a heavy snow and ice storm. With everything in the DC Metro shut down, Gina could not get a return flight or train ticket to make her way back to Indiana. Together, they made a decision that would set a 43-year course when, five months after meeting at a college party, the couple officially became Mr. and Mrs. Mark Lucas. Their quick decision resulted in three children, and several cross-country and overseas moves including time living in both Japan and Italy. In 1999 Mark retired (Hospital Corpsman, First Class Petty Officer) and moved his family to Lebanon. Though his naval career was quite rigorous, he was unable to effectively rest and remain idle. Instead, he decided to try his hand at a second career in the role of stay at home dad to the couple’s three active preschoolers. The position lasted only 6 months, as by then he’d successfully trained those under his watch to perform impressive feats such as armpit f***s on command. With his mission accomplished, Lucas turned his focus to a third and final career path working 24 years at First Internet Bank. There he executed wire transfers and eventually worked in bank security monitoring accounts for fraudulent activity. In his spare time, Mark enjoyed membership at American Legion Post 113, served locally as a Little League umpire, and bowled in a men’s league. Most recently he took up a new hobby of painting miniature figurines for board games. Though he was known to complain chronically that “no one asked me” when grouching about a family decision as small as a dinner menu, he remained steadfast to his shunning of constant mobile phone tethering. Often, he’d leave his cell phone in do not disturb mode, or silenced, and sometimes in a totally different room. Those close to him accepted this as his personal MO, occasionally threatening him with the installation of a landline. He might acquiesce for a while, but would later return to his stubborn and comically predictable phone-ignoring while rolling his eyes and smirking. Still, the family lovingly humored him and his quirks. A particularly standout quirk was his love of an annual family trek to a vacation timeshare in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The trip always included a painstaking and extensive visit to the National Air and Space Museum. There he spent many joyful hours, loved ones in tow, examining each exhibit on a near microscopic level. Last week, as news spread of his passing, a wave of heartfelt condolences washed over the announcement in a private “Class of ‘79” Facebook group. Those who knew him from childhood expressed gratitude for his kindness, his weird sense of humor, the unwavering compassion he showed for others, and his ability to fix so much for so many without expectation of even the smallest acknowledgement. Mark Lucas will be both missed and remembered for his wry wit and perfectly timed sarcastic zingers, and as the guy who could speak volumes with a darting glance, a roll of his eyes, or his signature “hands on hips with palms facing out” stance. Most importantly, he taught us to laugh at ourselves and to always live in the moment. Fairwinds and following seas Lucas, we have the watch Honoring Mark’s wishes, the Lucas family invites all to a celebration of life to be held Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street, in Lebanon, Indiana. The informal gathering will be a time to trade stories and reminisce about all of the “Lucas-isms” we all hold dear. The memorial will conclude with an observance of full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mark’s name to the Lebanon Public Library (see the Memorials & Donations portal at www.leblib.org ). They also wish to thank the skilled and compassionate caregivers from Brighton Hospice, especially Bri and Elizabeth.

Mark A. Lucas

February 16, 1961 - January 17, 2025