Mark Alan Dailey, age 61, beloved husband of Audrey T. Dailey, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife at his side. Though he faced many health challenges, his death was sudden and unexpected and he is dearly missed.

Mark was born on July 9, 1964 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the second child of Judy and Matthew Dailey. He and his older sister, Monica, were joined two years later by another sister, Marykay, while the family was living in West Germany, where Matthew was stationed with the U.S. Army. After living briefly in Clear Lake, South Dakota, the family settled in 1969 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Mark graduated from Groveton High School (Class of ’82) where he made many life-long friends. He especially cherished his years playing on the Groveton Tigers Football team, and he loved recounting stories of their escapades both on and off the field. He attended Frostburg State University in Maryland on a football scholarship until an injury in his third year ended his football career.

Mark returned to Alexandria, Virginia where he worked for some time with BlueCross Blue Shield and alsoworked at Bennigan’s Alexandria, Virginia, where in 1984 he met the love of his life, Audrey Tomczak.

Mark and Audrey were married on August 27,1994 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia and made their home there for nearly 32 years.

Following in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, Roy Joens, Mark went to work for the United States Postal Service, first as a rural route carrier. He took his job seriously, but his real mission was connecting with the people on his route. Those people would describe Mark as gregarious, kind, and empathetic. He found time to listen to, chat with, and tease anyone and everyone he met.

Many photographs of Mark capture the twinkle in his eye and the familiar smirk that revealed his playful sense of humor. But he was also fiercely loyal—to his wife, his country, his family and friends, and the Washington Redskins—usually in that order (except, perhaps, on game day!).

Mark's warmth, humor, and gift for making friends wherever he went left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Audrey; his father, Matthew Dailey, and wife Cynthia, of Virginia; his sisters, Monica Grabowska and husband John, of New Mexico; and Marykay Meagher and husband Jim, of Virginia; as well as several nieces and grandnieces. He was preceded in death by his mother, Judy Dailey.