Kenneth Garth Parks, 90, of Union City, passed away Friday, April 16, 2021 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.
A private memorial service will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta.
Ken was born on February 25, 1931 in Sherwood Township, Michigan to Frank and Beatrice (Woodruff) Parks. He grew up in Sherwood and attended Union City High School, where he played football, basketball, baseball and high-jumped for the track team. Ken graduated with the Class of 1949. On September 4, 1949, he married the former Wilma Walterspaugh at the Congregational Church in Union City. She preceded him in death in 2014, after 64 years of marriage.
Ken served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, stationed mainly in Alaska. He was later employed by Clark Equipment and retired after 25 years with the company. Ken and Wilma enjoyed square dancing, going to square dance camp and camping as a group with their square dance friends.
In Union City, where Ken had resided since 1950, he was a local sports enthusiast and attended and closely followed many high school sports teams over the years. He was inaugural inductee into the Union City High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016 for his individual athletic merits, then was inducted again as part of the record-winning 1949 football team. Ken served as a Little League coach and a scout leader during his sons’ younger years.
He had a fun sense of humor, enjoyed a good hearty meal, liked watching the annual Union City Memorial Day Parade and playing cards. He spoke his mind and was never without a colorful saying.
Ken is survived by his sons, Steven (Paula Johnson) of Marshall and Garry (Jessica) Parks of Hanover; his grandchildren, Summer Olmstead of Portage, Gabe Parks of Hanover and Brandon (Tiffany) Parks of Burlington; and his great-grandchildren, Kenyon, Kiara, Sebastian and Wesson.
In addition to his wife, Wilma, Ken was preceded in death by his siblings, Eline Ely, Margaret Arney, Keith Parks and Barbara Guthrie.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Union City High School Athletic Department, 430 St. Joseph Street, Union City, MI 49094.
Please visit www.lighthousefuneral.com to share memories, pictures and videos with the family.
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