Raymond E. Parks 1940-2018
Raymond E. Parks, 77, of Topeka passed away on Thursday, September 27, 2018. He was born October 18, 1940 on the Washington Ranch in Pottawatomie County, near Manhattan.
He was one of four children born to Raymond Emanuel and Cecelia Fern Estes Parks. Raymond grew up on the family farm in Pottawatomie County and graduated from Westmoreland High School in 1958.
After graduation, he worked for a short time as a mechanic in Manhattan. He then attended Clark’s Business School in Topeka. Raymond was a dispatcher for the Kansas Highway Patrol in Topeka. He was a loan officer for Forbes Credit Union, he transferred to a new location at Ft. Riley and he and his family moved to St. George.
He returned to Topeka to manage the credit union. Forbes Credit Union merged with Kansas Credit Union to become Credit Union 1 of Kansas where he was Operations Manager until his retirement in 1994.
After his retirement, he turned his hobby into a profession. Raymond opened Parks Auto Sales in North Topeka and operated that business until his second retirement.
He attended Second Presbyterian Church in Topeka for many years. He was a member of St. George United Methodist Church. He loved to fish and hunt, watch 1970s TV shows and The Voice, and working on his lawn.
He played fast-pitch softball, even playing for a team from the State of Kansas. He enjoyed playing pitch with family and friends. He was an avid sports fan, following the Chiefs and Royals and cheering for all Kansas college sports team.
Raymond was a faithful grandfather, going to, and watching as many of his grandchildren’s activities as he could.
He was married to T.A. (Thelma) Parks at Beloit, Kansas on May 26, 1963. She survives. Other survivors include his two sons, David Parks and wife Debbie of Mayetta and Tim Parks and wife Dyann of Holton; grandchildren, Dylan Levi and his fiancé Nicole Karlin, Tristan David, Cailin Cecelia, Cassidy Rae and Tyson James Parks; brother, James Parks and wife Kay of Manhattan; sister, Dolores Clements of Fairfield, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews that Raymond thought so much of.
He was preceded in death by both parents; his brother, Richard L. Parks and wife Lavon Parks; and brother-in-law, Ward Clements.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Monday, October 1, 2018 at Second Presbyterian Church in Topeka. Raymond wanted everybody to be comfortable at his funeral, casual attire is fine.
Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday at the Westmoreland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m. on Sunday evening at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in care of Davidson Funeral Home, 1035 N. Kansas Ave., Topeka, Ks 66608.
