Ross Lombard Parks ’43

Ross Lombard Parks ’43, 90, of Asheville, N.C., died April 22 at Deerfield Skilled Nursing facility. He was an Asheville native, born in Biltmore Hospital, the son of Claude H. Parks and Madelon E. Todd Parks. Parks is survived by his wife, Priscilla N. Parks, 455 Concord Rd., Fletcher, NC 28732-9734, whom he married in 2000 after renewing their high school romance. He is also survived by his son, Thomas Parks ’75; his daughter, M. Jean Parks ’77 (Arthur Grand); his brother, Howard Parks; his sister, Claudia Ferrell; and his stepdaughters and their families who welcomed him with open hearts, Bobbi Whitmire, Nancy Jones, Judy Bohan, and Kathy Zwingert. He enjoyed his nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Parks was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 51 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Moore Parks; his daughter, Betsy Rosenberg; son-in-law, Ed Rosenberg; and his brother, Henry Parks. Parks graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy and Davidson before serving in the Army in WWII. He fought in the European Theatre, was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, and was awarded the Purple Heart. With the help of the GI Bill, Parks earned a doctorate in chemistry at UNC. He worked in textiles manufacturing for American Enka and then for Monsanto Co. in Decatur, Ala. His last assignment for Monsanto was at Mound Laboratories near Dayton, Ohio. He served in the Army Reserves, primarily in medical education, and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. He retired to Asheville in 1986. Parks was a lifelong Episcopalian. After the death of his daughter, he worked with his wife, Betty, to provide support for other parents of homicide victims. He was active in the Men’s Garden Club of Asheville. His family and friends appreciated his intelligence, curiosity, and sense of humor.