Palestine High School Alumni Association

12 / 19 / 1925  –  02 / 15 / 2010

Charles Howard Parkman, 84, of Paris, transcended into God’s Heavenly Kingdom, at home on Monday, February 15, 2010 following several months of ill health.

Funeral services will be directed by Starrett Funeral Home at the Lamar Avenue Church of Christ on Saturday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m. Patrick Cannon will officiate and Gene Stallings will give the eulogy. Interment with military honors will be on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 in the Tennessee Colony Cemetery near Palestine, Texas.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19at the Lamar Avenue Church of Christ.

He was born on December 19, 1925 to Jesse L. and Martha Clyda Marlow Parkman on the Wildcat Ferry Road north of Palestine, Anderson County, Texas. His parents preceded him in death, along with brothers Kenneth Parkman, Bill K. Parkman, John C. Parkman, and sisters Blanche Emma Parkman Kinney and Lucille Elizabeth Parkman Scholand. Also preceding him in death was Joyce Marie Jones Parkman, who was the mother of his two sons.
He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Thompson Parkman, who he married on April 7, 1984; his two sons, Charles Michael of Howe and John Patrick Parkman of Sherman and his brother, J. L. Parkman of Palestine; three granddaughters, Amanda Gail Parkman, Victoria Parkman Barrera and Bethany Ann Parkman; seven great grandchildren, Jordan, Ashlyn, King, Tori, Zane, Christopher and Cheyenne.

He is also survived by three step sons, Greg Thompson, Mark Thompson and Todd Thompson, as well as step grandchildren, Will, Andrew, Ryan, Jordan and Sydney Elizabeth Thompson. There are numerous nieces and nephews who survive.
Pallbearers will be Joe Moore, Neal Collard, Hugh Anthony, Bobby Ray Walters, Curtis Garrett and Bobby Smallwood. Honorary pallbearers are Greg Thompson, Mark Thompson, and Todd Thompson,

Charlie attended school at Tennessee Colony and graduated from Palestine High school in 1943. Upon graduation, he joined the Navy on Dec. 15, 1943. He attended Rice University, boot training at Great Lakes Naval Training, gunnery school at Gulfport, Mississippi and Bay St. Louis, Louisiana. He was a part of a gun crew aboard the USS Helena Modeska and served until August 1945. He also served aboard the CUE 103 USS Roi in the South Pacific until May 1946. He was honorably discharged on May 26, 1946.

He graduated from Sam Houston State Teacher’s College, February 1950 with an Agriculture Education degree. He taught agriculture in the Veterans Ag Program; worked in oil fields and at K. Wolen Department Store. He began his career with Texas Power & Light May 1, 1953.  At TP&L, he worked as a Farm Service Advisor in Palestine and Paris before transferring to Sherman in the Northern Division office as Supervisor of Farm Service Department. He then went to Van Alstyne in 1965 as manager; transferred to Waco in 1982 as Director of Ag Development and Commercial Development and in 1986 moved to Dallas as Manager Ag Development-TU Electric where he retired. In 1984 he was given the Honorary Farmer’s Degree, the highest award presented by the national Future Farmers of America.

Charlie was very active in civic events after moving to Paris in 1989. He was the Parade Chairman for the July 4th parade; active in the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce and the All-Breed Bull Sale and chili supper; he was a member of the Rotary Club of Paris, and was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. He served as the first chairman of the dictionaries for the third grade students; and was also a member of the Lions Club. He had a great love for the outdoors, with deer hunting, fishing, and golf three of his very favorite sports, (along with baseball). His love of travel took him and Jo Ann to many parts of the world including driving to Alaska, which was his favorite place on earth; Switzerland, Italy, England, Scotland, France, Spain, Mexico, Canada , the Holy Lands, Egypt and Japan, and all the states in the nation. The “big mountains” of Colorado and Utah were also a favorite and he was always planning the next hunting trip.

Charlie clearly lived out the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22). He exemplified Christ’s LOVE unconditionally and freely given; JOY in his happy spirit; PEACE in his soul that led his life; PATIENCE that transcended any life chaos; KINDNESS that was displayed to every person he encountered; GOODNESS that was seen throughout his every act; FAITHFULNESS to his Lord and Savior, Jesus; GENTLENESS that never ceased to calm and sooth us all, and SELF-CONTROL that we all seek to emulate

The family wishes to thank Charollette Davis, a very special caregiver and Doris Dollins of Premier Hospice for their loving care.

Memorials may be sent to Boles Home, the Rotary of Paris for the establishment of The Charlie Parkman Scholarship to Paris Junior College (David Salas, President) or the charity of your choice.
Charlie wanted people to know that “he did the best he could”.