Walter Samuel Parks III
Walter Samuel Parks, III passed away on August 6, 2022. He was born to Jeanie Wilson Arbuckle Tennant Parks and Dr. Walter Samuel Parks, Jr. on April 26, 1945, in Fort Worth, TX. His father arrived home from WWII the day he was born. The family moved to Midland, TX in 1951 He was an Eagle Scout and member of “The Order of The Arrow.” He played in the high school band. He graduated from Midland High School in 1963 and attended Austin College and graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a BBA in 1967.
In 1967 he joined the Marine Corp and attended basic training and then officer candidate school at Quantico, VA. Upon graduation from Marine Officer Candidate School he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corp. He attended Navy pilot training at Pensacola Naval Air Station and subsequently received helicopter flight training at Naval Air Station Meridian, MS. He flew a CH53 Helicopter in the Middle East and Vietnam returning to Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA. He rose to the rank of Captain before he left the military to pursue a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
After working for several years in the landscape business in California and Colorado he moved to Denver, CO in the late 1970’s and began a career as a landman in the oil business. He moved to Durango, CO in 1987 to work as a broker for Amoco during the beginning of the Fruitland Coal development. From there, he remained in Durango, working as a landman independently as well as a company landman for DJ Simmons Company. In 2017, Walter returned to Denver to be closer to family, though he continued to work for numerous companies.
He was a member of the DAPL and AAPL for many years. He served as a Director of the AAPL representing the Four Corners area of the United States. He was a member of Durango High Noon Rotary Club. A member of Christ the King Lutheran Church of Durango, CO and Epiphany Lutheran Church of Denver, CO.
While working in the Big Rapids area of MI for a year starting in 1982, he met his future wife, Linda Lou Suckow. They were married in Denver CO in August 1984.
He was an avid golfer, fly fisherman and loved hiking and camping in the mountains. He completed one of his “Bucket Lists” in recent years and rafted the entire Grand Canyon with his sons and several close friends. He started the trip at age 72 and ended at the age of 73. He loved white water rafting and, in his lifetime, he was proud to have run the Upper Animas River multiple times. He was one tough old bird and thrill seeker!
He is survived by his wife, Linda, his son Justin Parks and his wife Estelle of New York City, his son Clayton and his fiancé, Jessica Marshall of Denver, CO. his sister, Janice and her husband Frank of Austin, TX, his sister, Vivian David and her husband Larry of Georgetown, TX, and two beautiful granddaughters, Olivia and Maia of New York City, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jeanie and Walter Parks, his brother, Robert Charles Parks, and his son, Wesley Steven Parks.
He fought a long valiant battle with cancer….and never complained. We are thankful for the care we received from MD Anderson and Rocky Mountain Cancer Center.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486, please include Dr Wierda’s CLL Research in the memo portion of the check.
A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held next April, 2023 in Durango, CO and Denver CO. Burial will be at a Veterans Cemetery.