Jeff Markley was born during the height of World War II. His father was a problem solver and could fix almost anything; Jeff inherited those skills. He loved cars and raced Corvettes, and even held an East Coast record in the C modified production category. He loved mechanical things—inventing, designing, and tinkering—and eventually became a mechanical engineer.
Drafted during the Vietnam War, Jeff volunteered to become a counter-insurgency paratrooper who could be dropped behind enemy lines. Fortunately, he was sent to Korea where he spent, “18 fun-filled months jumping out of perfectly good aircraft.” On his 22nd jump during a family picnic, his main chute did not open, but his reserve chute did. He survived, decided to get his pilot’s license, and developed a real love of flying. He started flying in a PA-12 tail-dragger, which sometimes sounded like it would not make it back to the airport. Then later, a Piper Colt, a Piper 180, and a Piper Arrow, which he and his wife Penny would fly for weekend getaways to Martha‘s Vineyards and Nantucket.
After their children were born, flights became shorter, but no less adventuresome: Sunday afternoon flights to a golf course for hot dogs, or "buzzing the house" and the unsuspecting neighbors on a Saturday morning. One of his more recent flights was in a P-51 Mustang, where his retired fighter pilot instructor let him fly the aircraft to perform loops and barrel rolls.
After he retired in 2005, Jeff found a way to merge his mechanical skills and enthusiasm for aviation, restoring military aircraft at Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association. He became the Director of Restoration for the DVHAA's Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum, at the former NAS Willow Grove. He loved the challenge of planning, designing, and recreating aircraft components—he would draft plans and find a place to fabricate them, or make them himself. He made aircraft bomb replicas out of PVC pipe and styrofoam, and designed a custom steel mount for a helicopter. Even during his last days, he made sure all of the plans to transport an F4 Phantom to the museum were complete.
When he wasn’t working on planes, he was always working on…something. Jeff lived a life of action, service, and purpose. He spent his free time restoring his 1962 fuel-injected Corvette, chopping firewood, helping his kids with their latest home improvement project/disaster, or walking his dog Sandy. He also dedicated much time to the community, serving on the township planning commission for over 40 years. His greatest joy was experiencing the world—he and Penny traveled to six continents together for some of the greatest sights on Earth: the Pyramids, Machu Picchu, the Great Wall, the Eiffel Tower, the Australian Outback. Yet some of his fondest travels were closer to home, spending weekends at the family’s beach home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware—drinking martinis on the deck, watching the people, and taking the dogs to swim in the ocean.

REMEMBRANCES:

We lost Jeff Markley...Our World is Greatly Diminished.

We lost His Sunny Smile, Sparking Eyes, & Warm Handshake.

He was a Highly-Regarded and Massively Accomplished Leader of Our Restoration Team.

Jeff was a Leader by Inspiration & Example...He is Irreplaceable.