William Parkey Obituary

William Robert Parkey, Sr.
1929-2015
William Robert Parkey, Sr. passed away on July 23, 2015, in Houston, Texas. He was born on May 18, 1929, near Hollister, Missouri, where he graduated from high school at the School of the Ozarks near his home. He attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1952. He moved to Texas City, Texas, and met and married Ellen Wayne Ormond of Galveston, Texas, in 1955. They began their life together in El Paso while serving a two year term of service in the U.S. Army. They resided in Galveston for 32 years where they reared their three children.
Mr. Parkey started his employment career as an Engineer and later a Production Manager for Union Carbide Corporation in Texas City. He then served as Assistant Vice President of American National Insurance Company in Galveston, Texas, and then Vice President of Guaranty Federal Savings and Loan Association and Executive Vice President of Guaranty Service Corporation, a real estate development subsidiary of Guaranty Federal, both in Galveston.
He joined San Antonio Savings and Loan Association in 1985 as Senior Vice President and manager of the Association's Houston area real estate and mortgage investments, and later Gibraltar Savings as Senior Vice President and manager of real estate. He moved to Houston in 1987 and retired in 1995 after a 43 year engineering and business career.
He was active in many Galveston civic and church activities. After the 1961 Galveston city charter change, he served on several committees that modernized city planning and zoning ordinances and building codes. He was a board member of the Galveston Independent School District and served as board president for two years. He was a board member of the YMCA, Salvation Army, Galveston Historical Foundation, Galveston Children's Home, and the William Temple Foundation. He was active in Trinity Episcopal Church of Galveston where he served as vestryman, Junior and Senior Warden, and president of the board of Trinity Episcopal School. He also chaired several fundraising drives for Trinity Church and School. He was a longtime member of the Port Bay Hunting and Fishing Club of Rockport, Texas, and served a term as president of the board.
Mr. Parkey was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Clarence Parkey, and is survived by Ellen, his beloved wife of 60 years; son, William Robert Parkey, Jr., and his wife, Dana, of Houston; daughter, Ruth Parkey Kelly, and her husband, Douglas, of Houston; and son, John Thornton Parkey, and his wife, Catherine, of Plymouth, Michigan. He is survived by six grandchildren: Will and Anna Parkey, Mills and Bowden Kelly, and Genevieve and Julia Parkey. He is also survived by his brother, Thomas Lee Parkey, and his wife, Sue, and their daughter, Suzanne.
The family would like to thank Araceli Jimenez, Julio Alfaro, Elizabeth Darden, Donna Gonzales, Norma James, Collette Forche, and Deborah Williams for their devoted care.
A funeral service is to be conducted at 1:30 in the afternoon on Monday, the 27th of July, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston, officiated by the Reverend Susan Kennard. Immediately following the service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in Eaton Hall. Graveside services will begin at 4:00 pm at Galveston Memorial Park Cemetery in Hitchcock.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Trinity Episcopal Church, 2216 Ball Ave, Galveston, Texas, 77550, or to the charity of one's choice.
A funeral service is to be conducted at 1:30 in the afternoon on Monday, the 27th of July, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston, officiated by the Reverend Susan Kennard. Immediately following the service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in Eaton Hall. Graveside services will begin at 4:00 pm at Galveston Memorial Park Cemetery in Hitchcock.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Trinity Episcopal Church, 2216 Ball Ave, Galveston, Texas, 77550, or to the charity of one's choice.