Obituary of Donald Parks

Donald L. Parks, 83, of Bedford, passed away peacefully at the Bedford County Memorial Hospital on July 26, 2011 with his family at his side. He was born on January 31, 1928, in Hollis, Long Island, New York. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Margaret Krantz Parks, his son Barry S. Parks and wife Ann of Lovettsville, Va., his son Donald L. "Corky" Parks, Jr. of Ellicott City, Maryland, grandson Michael Parks of Benson, Arizona, granddaughter Ellen Parks Smith of Pasadena, Maryland, and two special sisters-in-law, Betty Hooper of Lynchburg and Jean Johnson of Bedford. Don proudly served in the U. S. Marine Corps in both World War II and the Korean Conflict, and later graduated from the Delehanty Institute in New York City. He retired from the Federal Department on Corrections, moving from Northern Virginia to Bedford where he loved its people and the mountains. He pursued a variety of interests over his lifetime including becoming a ham radio operator (N4PLQ), organic gardening, metal detecting of Civil War and Indian artifacts, and learning to fly an airplane. He volunteered at the National D-Day Memorial in its early days and more recently initiated and helped to organize the Retired Seniors Volunteer Patrol of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department in which he served as a volunteer. He also took great pleasure in maintaining a sanctuary and feeding place in his "hollow" for the animals and birds. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, P. O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523. A funeral service will be conducted Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 2:00 pm from the Updike Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Miller officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 12 noon until 2:00 pm. at the funeral home. Interment will be private. Arrangements by Updike Funeral Home and Cremation Service Bedford.