John F. Parks, 86, of Snohomish, WA, died at Everett Hospital on Thursday, November 23, 2017 after a brief illness. He was the husband of the late Betty Barr Parks, who passed in December 2014. They lived in Washington for over 50 years, including the last 30 years in Snohomish.

Born in Fall River, he was the son of Edward and Gertrude Parks. He had three siblings, the late Edward Parks of Middleboro, MA the late Arthur E. Parks II of Marion, MA and the late Gertrude Parks Bullivant of Tiverton, RI. His family moved to New Bedford, MA in 1934 and 10 years later moved to Marion. He graduated from Tabor Academy in 1948. Following Tabor, he earned his bachelor’s degree in two years from Bryant College in 1950.

In 1950, he married Betty Barr and they moved to Inglewood, CA where he attended aircraft mechanic school and earned his federal mechanics license in 1952. In 1952, Mr. Parks was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served as a helicopter mechanic for two years. Upon completion of his service, he attended Tri-State College in Angola, IN in 1954 and was awarded a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering in just two years. While in Indiana he also earned his private pilot’s license.

In 1956, Mr. Parks began his career in aeronautical engineering with Cessna Aircraft. In 1966, he went to work for the Boeing Company in Seattle, WA. He spent the next 15 years with Boeing until his retirement in 1981. During his 24 years as an aeronautical engineer, Mr. Parks performed weight research and later worked on the weight section of the 747 group and aerospace engineering.

Upon retirement, he and his beloved wife Betty traveled and worked the land on their 20-acre home in Snohomish in which they loved to spend time together planting and growing and being with nature and their cats. They supported many organizations.

A private burial will be held in the spring in Marion, MA.