Lester M. "Shorty" Parks

Lester M. Shorty Parks, age 95, of Eaton, OH, passed away Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Reid Hospital in Richmond, IN. He was born January 22, 1920 in Preble County to the late Russell and Mae (Bechtol) Parks. Upon graduating from Eaton High School in 1940, Shorty worked for Lawsons Groceries. He went into the Army in 1942 serving over 3 years, part of which was in the South Pacific during WWII. When he returned home, he again worked for Lawsons and Scotts Groceries, then in 1947 he and his wife Martha bought the old Longnecker Grocery on East Main Street, operating it as a grocery and then as a meat market. Later they purchased the old Polar Foods, operating as Parks IGA, selling it in 1967. He worked for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, then as Assessor and Weights and Measures out of the Auditors Office, retiring in 1982. He was a member of the Eaton United Church of Christ, Eaton, OH; and was a member of the Preble County PERI Chapter #19. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife Martha Parks, who passed away in 2012; and brother Harold Parks. He is survived by his daughter Patty (Ferris) Cummings of Hillsboro, OH; son John (Vicki) Parks of Eaton, OH; grandchildren David (Rachel) Cummings of Seaman, OH, Brian (Heather) Cummings of Hillsboro, OH and Becky (Adrian) Brunett of Germantown, OH; great grandchildren Courtney Cummings, Logan Cummings, Ethan Cummings, Brayden Cummings, Christian Cummings, Caden Brunett and Abbie Brunett; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, March 16, 2015 at the Girton Schmidt & Boucher Gard Funeral Home, 226 West Main Street, Eaton, OH with Rev. Roger Stine officiating. Burial will be in Mound Hill Cemetery, Eaton, OH. Friends will be received from 2:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday, March 15, 2015 and one hour prior to services all at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Eaton United Church of Christ, 113 West Decatur Street, Eaton, OH 45320.