Obituary of Margaret Krantz Parks

Margaret Krantz (Marge) Parks, age 99, of Bedford passed away on March 29, 2025 at Morningside in Charlottesville, Virginia. Born on September 25, 1925, to John Clifton and Bessie Anson Krantz in Bedford County, she was married to her loving husband of 62 years, Donald L. Parks, now deceased. She was predeceased by her brother, John Clifton Krantz, Jr. and her sisters Ruth K. Fisher, Mary K. Spry, Mildred K. Saunders, Bettie K. Hooper and Jeanne K. Johnson.

She is survived by her son Barry S. Parks and wife Ann of Lake Monticello, Virginia and Donald L. “Corky” Parks of Henderson, Nevada. Also surviving are her grandchildren Ellen Parks Smith of Frederick, Maryland, and Michael W. Parks of Benson, Arizona, and a number of nieces and nephews, all of who she dearly loved.

She attended the two-room Krantz School built by her father on the family farm just east of Bedford, graduated high school at New London Academy, and attended Strayer Business School in Washington, D.C. for a time. During World War II she was employed as secretary to an appointee of President Roosevelt who headed the Social Security Administration at that time. In later years she became the Clerk of Court for Fairfax City, Virginia, and served for a time as Justice of the Peace. She was secretary to the Superintendent of Schools in Fairfax City and deputy clerk of the School Board of Fairfax County.

After retirement Marge volunteered at the Bedford YMCA in its beginning years and managed its pledges for its first swimming pool. She served as president of the Virginia Extension service homemakers clubs in Moneta and in Montvale in Bedford County and was president of the Timbrook Woman’s Club of Lynchburg for 3 terms.  She was a member of Bethany Methodist Church, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Bedford Elks Lodge. Marge enjoyed hobbies including calligraphy, egg decorating and acrylic painting, and wrote two self-published books. She loved out-of-country travel and also shared many wonderful and various trips with her sisters across the country over the years.

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 momorial service will be conducted at 1 PM on Friday, May 23, 2025 at Updike Funeral Chapel, Bedford.  Interment will be private. 

Arrangements are being handled by Updike Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Bedford.