Mark Thomas Rivers, known lovingly as Mark, Dad, Papa…the love Pastor, the man, the myth, the legend… was born on September 10, 1960, in Columbus, Ohio, and he passed from this life on June 8, 2026, at Singing Hills Church Camp in Palestine, West Virginia, into the presence of the Lord he served with all his heart. Mark lived a life marked by faith, devotion, and purpose. He was a Christian whose love for God was not casual or occasional, but wholehearted and steadfast. He lived out the truth of Mark 12:30, loving the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength. That devotion shaped the way he spoke, worked, worshiped, taught, and loved. He was wise, analytical, and deeply faith-filled, and those qualities were evident to everyone who knew him.
Mark served his country as a Jet Engine Mechanic in the United States Air Force from 1979 to 1988, where his skill, discipline, and integrity were part of the legacy he carried throughout his life. He later worked at Dupont Washington Works in Teflon Monomer and also with Chemours, where he continued to apply his strong work ethic and careful mind. Whether he was working on jet engines, automobiles, carpentry, or homeschooling lessons, Mark approached each task with excellence and a steady hand. He understood the value of doing things well, and he believed that honest work was one of the ways a man honors God. Above all, Mark was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and family man.
He is survived by his wife, Pamela Rivers, who walked beside him through the seasons of life with love and commitment. He leaves behind his children, Sharaya Rivers Greathouse, Misha Dolpies and her husband Joseph, and Jesse Rivers and his wife Veronica, his brother, David Rivers and and his wife, Dee, and his sister, Sarah Garrett and her husband, Sean, many nieces, nephews and other beloved family members. He was proceeded in death by his father G.David Rivers and his mother , Marilyn Lee Leavitt, baby Sixpence Rivers, baby November and baby Rivers. He was a proud
and loving grandfather to Aria, Elianna, Benjamin, Victoria Greathouse, Landon, Selah, Emersyn, and Oaklynn Dolpies, Poppy, and baby Rivers expected in December 2026. His family was not simply part of his life. They were one of his greatest joys, and he cherished them deeply.
Mark was also a man who loved the body of Christ and the presence of God. He found joy in teaching and preaching the Word of God, in worship, and in Singing Hills Camp, a place that held special meaning in his heart. He loved long conversations over a mug of black coffee, where wisdom could be shared, laughter could rise, and truth could be spoken with grace. He was the kind of man who listened carefully, thought deeply, and spoke with conviction. His words carried weight because his life carried integrity. His love was not limited to words. It was lived out in the way he served, encouraged, and invested in others. He loved his wife and family, and he loved each of you. That simple truth reflects the generous heart he carried throughout his life. Mark’s faith was not only something he professed. It was something he practiced. He believed in the power of God’s Word, the beauty of worship, the importance of fellowship, and the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Those who knew Mark will remember his strength, his insight, his devotion, and his steady presence. They will remember a man who loved the Lord, loved his family, and loved the call of God on his life. His life reminds us that a faithful man does not need to be loud to be powerful, and he does not need to be famous to make a lasting impact. A life surrendered to God becomes a testimony that continues to speak long after the final earthly chapter is written. Mark Rivers lived in the spirit of faithful good, and his life stands as a witness to the beauty of steadfast love, diligent work, and enduring faith. Though he is no longer with us in body, the legacy of Mark Rivers remains in the hearts of those who loved him and in the lives he touched. His journey on earth has ended, but for the believer, death is not defeat. It is a passage into the eternal promises of God. We give thanks for his life, his testimony, and the many ways he reflected the goodness of the Lord. May those who mourn him also be strengthened by the hope he held dear, and may his memory continue to inspire all who seek to live with faith, courage,
and love.
A Celebration of his life will be held Sunday 2:00 PM at Tri-County Worship Center in Rockport with Pastors Everett Snyder and Joseph Dolpies officiating. Visitation will be Saturday 5-8 PM at Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg and Sunday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Follow