Orrin "O.R." Parks' Obituary
Orrin 'O.R.' Ralph Parks, 88 of Centerville, Iowa died on Monday, January 9, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. He was born the son of Orrin Ray and Lelah Madge (Reagan)Parks on March 14, 1923 in Moulton, Iowa. He graduated from the Newton High School in Newton, Iowa in 1941. In December of 1942, O.R. joined the United States Marine Corps and was a radio gunner in a B-25 squadron serving in the Pacific Theater. After his honorable discharge from the service, he then attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa and graduated in 1949, and later got his Masters Degree from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa in 1952. On January 30, 1949, O.R. was united in marriage to Alice Pauline 'Polly' Kunzman in Fairfield, Iowa. He was a Math teacher at Thornburg, Chariton, Clinton and Centerville Schools and retired in 1984 after 35 years of teaching. O.R. enjoyed woodworking, being a ham radio operator, playing golf, camping, traveling to all 50 states and was especially interested in restoration of area ghost towns. He was a board member of the Historical Preservation Corporation and worked in many capacities in civic organizations. He spent many hours playing his guitar and singing at community organizatoins and nursing homes. He was very active in the First United Methodist Church in Centerville, where he served on the Church Board and was a Trustee. He was preceded in death by: his parents; a sister, Iris Warrick; and a half sister, Mary Hutchinson.O.R. is survived by: his wife, Polly Parks of Centerville, Iowa; and a son, Douglas Ray Parks also of Centerville; brother-in-laws, Wallace (Doris) Kunzman of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Charley B. (Shirley) Kunzman of Douds, Iowa; an aunt, Helen Reagan of California; as well as several nieces and nephews.Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 10:30 am at the First United Methodist Church in Centerville, Iowa with Rev. Terra Amundson officiating. Burial will follow with full military rites at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Cincinnati, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2012 from 2 pm until 8 pm with the family present from 6 pm until 8 pm at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Drake Public Library, First United Methodist Church or to Historical Preservation Corporation and can be mailed to or left at the funeral home. The To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Orrin "O.R." Parks please visit our Sympathy Store.
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