Mark Hardin Winchell passed away peacefully on February 9, 2026. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on January 26, 1959, to Gerald P and Jane Winchell. His family moved to Waco, Texas, shortly thereafter. Mark was valedictorian of his high school class at Vanguard Preparatory School and attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1981 with a BS in Accounting. He took a job in auditing for Deloitte, Haskins, & Sells (today Deloitte LLP), later going to work for TGS Geophysical Co (later TGS NOPEC), where he rose to VP of Finance, and eventually as Controller at the chemical firm Shintech, where he finished his career.

Mark was a mild-mannered father and husband who loved God and his family with his whole heart. He cried when they cried and rejoiced when they rejoiced. He took great pride in seeing his five children grow into the young men and women they are today. He took trips with his sons, including father-son retreats as children and, when they were grown, hiking trips to such far-flung places as Nepal and Peru. He loved giving his children baths when they were babies, teaching them to ride a bike, hearing them sing in the Houston Children’s Chorus, and remaining close to them through their college years and into adulthood. He prized education in particular and made it possible for them to go to wonderful schools.

Mark was a faithful member of Tallowood Baptist Church for 25+ years and loved his Sunday School class. He served as Chairman of the deacons and participated in various mission trips. He pursued the love of tennis he found as a child well into his adult life. He honored his parents well, in life and in their deaths. He loved telling stories and had a keen, wry sense of humor. He found deep meaning in genealogy and contributed much research on his and Melinda’s family trees to historical databases. He loved Treebeard’s, Goode Co. Barbecue, and Blue Bell Ice Cream. He valued having good friends whom he knew for many years. He loved Keith Jarrett, Steely Dan, and Manhattan Transfer. He loved reading history, biography, and historical fiction, and watching Star Trek. He loved all things Texas and was always reminding everyone who knew him of his “state pride”.

He is survived by former wife Melinda and their five children (David, Laura, Suzanne, Margaret, and Jeff) and three grandchildren (Henry, Paloma, and Celine), as well as by his brother and sister-in law, Craig and Celia, and sister, Gail, and their families. He also has a large extended family. His Uncle Jeff and Aunt Sandra Neely were a godly influence throughout his life. His youngest son is named for Uncle Jeff.

A memorial service will be held at Tallowood Baptist Church (555 Tallowood Road, Houston, TX) on Saturday, March 28, at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund or World Vision.

For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. And when the perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the Scripture will be fulfilled that says, Death is swallowed up in victory.

I Corinthians 15:53-54

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