Paul Howard Parks
July 3, 1920 — March 10, 2003
Paul Howard Parks, 82, retired owner of Parks Oil Co. died Monday, March 10, 2003.
Paul was born July 3, 1920, in Eureka, Kansas, to Race S. and Hazel (Carrithers) Parks. He attended schools in Eureka, graduating high school in 1937 at the age of 16. He graduated from Kansas State Teachers College, in Emporia, Kansas in 1941, with a degree in business. While in college he played saxophone and clarinet all four years with the Lee Johnson Dance Band, the most popular college dance band in the state. He was also a member of Sigma Tau Gamma social fraternity.
Paul and Lida Rose Lilley, of Piedmont, Kansas were married June 27, 1942, in Yates Center, Kansas.
He enlisted in the United States Army in July of 1942, and joined the 503rd Ordnance Company Heavy Maintenance, Tank, made up of men from Kansas. They trained for one year in the states, then shipped out to the European Theater where he spent two years. He received an honorable discharge in 1945, with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Paul returned to Eureka and went into business with his father. He bought the business when his father retired in the early 1960’s, and remained with the business until his own retirement in 1995.
He was a member of VFW Post #2712, and he belonged to the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and the Eureka School Board for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Lida Rose of the home, one son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Brenda Parks of El Dorado, Kansas, one daughter and son-in-law, Sharyl and Paul Riley of Brighton, Colorado, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, March 15, 2003 at the First United Methodist Church in Eureka with Pastor Diana Hill officiating.
A memorial has been established in his name with the Eureka Carnegie Library. Contributions may be sent in care of the Koup Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045, which was in charge of service arrangements.
Paul was born July 3, 1920, in Eureka, Kansas, to Race S. and Hazel (Carrithers) Parks. He attended schools in Eureka, graduating high school in 1937 at the age of 16. He graduated from Kansas State Teachers College, in Emporia, Kansas in 1941, with a degree in business. While in college he played saxophone and clarinet all four years with the Lee Johnson Dance Band, the most popular college dance band in the state. He was also a member of Sigma Tau Gamma social fraternity.
Paul and Lida Rose Lilley, of Piedmont, Kansas were married June 27, 1942, in Yates Center, Kansas.
He enlisted in the United States Army in July of 1942, and joined the 503rd Ordnance Company Heavy Maintenance, Tank, made up of men from Kansas. They trained for one year in the states, then shipped out to the European Theater where he spent two years. He received an honorable discharge in 1945, with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Paul returned to Eureka and went into business with his father. He bought the business when his father retired in the early 1960’s, and remained with the business until his own retirement in 1995.
He was a member of VFW Post #2712, and he belonged to the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and the Eureka School Board for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Lida Rose of the home, one son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Brenda Parks of El Dorado, Kansas, one daughter and son-in-law, Sharyl and Paul Riley of Brighton, Colorado, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, March 15, 2003 at the First United Methodist Church in Eureka with Pastor Diana Hill officiating.
A memorial has been established in his name with the Eureka Carnegie Library. Contributions may be sent in care of the Koup Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045, which was in charge of service arrangements.
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