Charles "Chip" Markell III, age 84, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Sparks, Maryland.

He was born on June 24, 1941, at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, to Mary Alice Johnston of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Charles Markell, Jr, of Baltimore.

Chip grew up in Baltimore alongside his two sisters, Jeannette Harper of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Alice Mayn of Petaluma, California.

He attended the Gilman School, graduating in 1959, and went on to Princeton University, where he played lacrosse and was a member of the Colonial Eating Club. He graduated in 1963 with a pre-law focus before returning to Baltimore to attend the University of Maryland School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor.

After passing the Maryland Bar, Chip joined the Peace Corps and traveled to Yap in Micronesia, where he helped write the island's constitution. At age 27, he returned to the United States by way of San Francisco, where he lived for the next seven years. During that time, he worked as a private investigator in the naval maritime industry and later for Wells Fargo in Sausalito while preparing for the California Bar.

Chip's lifelong love of lacrosse brought him an enduring circle of friends who remained central to his life. The sport reflected his character—competitive, loyal, and spirited—and he was later inducted into the California Lacrosse Hall of Fame. His years in California were also marked by adventures in Yosemite and friendships that lasted a lifetime.

Chip eventually returned east, working for the Department of the Interior before settling in Bethesda, Maryland. He briefly entered private practice before returning to the Department of the Interior, where he remained until his retirement in the early 2000s.

In 1999, Chip's lifelong friend Bill Stifler introduced him to Bonnie, who would become the love of his life. They married in 2000 and settled in Annapolis on the South River, where they enjoyed many boating adventures on the Chesapeake Bay. They later returned to Baltimore, where Chip, in service to and love for our nation's history, became a board member of the Friends of Fort McHenry and helped plan the bicentennial celebration.

Chip and Bonnie spent nearly 26 years together traveling, exploring the world, and building a life rich with shared memories. Through their marriage, Chip became a devoted stepfather and grandfather, delighting in the love and laughter of their family.

More than anything, Chip valued his relationships. He deeply loved the family he built with Bonnie and cherished his sisters, their families, and his many nieces and nephews. He found immense joy not only in their major milestones but also in their everyday lives.

He is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Bonnie Markell; his stepchildren, Elizabeth (Jeff) Gredlein, Caroline (Billy) Ruhl, and David Mark Jones II; his grandchildren, Trip, Colbie, Mackey, Wyatt, Anna, Elaina, Lilly, and Austyn; his sisters, Jeannette Harper and

Alice Mayn; his nieces and nephews, Allison (Chris) Mamere, Emily McLanahan, Mark (Jacquie) McLanahan, Charles (Laura) Markell IV, Robert (Kristen) Harper, and Charles (Ann) Harper; and his great-nieces and nephews, Ella, Dixie, Jasmine, Robby, William, Grace, Weston, Charlie, Morgan, and Kate.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Markell, Jr. and Mary Alice Johnston Markell, and his grandparents, the Honorable Charles Markell, Jeanette Jones Markell, Cyrus Thurston Johnston, and Alice Stokes Johnston.

Chip lived a life defined by curiosity, friendship, service, and devotion. He saw value in everyone he knew, and his presence made the lives of those around him brighter. May his story, his lessons, his loyalty, and his love continue to shine in all of us.

A celebration of life will be held June 20, 2026, at 12 PM at the L'Hirondelle Club of Ruxton.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Friends of Fort McHenry, https://www.friendsoffortmchenry.org/