William Kenneth (Ken) Parks passed away on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at the age of 83 due to complications from COVID. His wife and son were by his side at the time of his passing. Ken was born on November 24, 1938 in Memphis, Tennessee to Kenneth and Dorothy Gill Parks. He attended Whitehaven High School before joining the Navy in 1957. Following his time in the Navy, he returned to Memphis, where he worked as an electronic technician for the Memphis Light, Gas, & Water Division until he retired in 2000. He married the love of his life Dianne in 1977, and they welcomed their only child Andrew (Andy) into the world the following year.

A lifelong tinkerer, Ken took great pride in his many inventions – most of which involved improving things around the house to the simultaneous gratitude and consternation of Dianne. Parallel to his devotion to Dianne was his faith in Christ, and he found joy in frequent engagements with his church family. Fondly known in the Navy as “Wrong Way Parks” due to his inability to consistently march in the same direction as his unit, he graduated from tech school at the top of his class and excelled as the ship’s electronic technician with conduct listed as “above reproach.” Dianne later experienced his endearing clumsiness when he asked her to dance on the night they first met. She fell in love with his kindness and quirky sense of humor, and he fell in love with everything about her. They remained inseparable.

In addition to his compassion and desire to help others, he was loved for his inability to tell a lie – a characteristic that sometimes got him into trouble, although he was always pardoned. His friends and family knew him as a man of principle, determination, dependability, and one who would drop everything to help someone in need. In this vein, it was his desire to donate his body to medical research in the hopes that he might contribute to improving the lives of others. Unfortunately, this was not possible due to COVID restrictions. Therefore, in lieu of flowers or gifts his family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It would have brought Ken great joy to know that he is helping to fund children’s cancer research.

Ken is survived by his wife Dianne; their son Andy and his wife Bobbie, both of Washington, DC; his brother James (Jim) Parks of Atlanta, GA; and a large extended family who will miss him greatly.