A memorial service was held Saturday at Lakewood Funeral Home for James Franklin Park, 70, of Modesto. He died peacefully on Nov. 4, 2011, surrounded by his family at his home after a long battle with cancer.
Born Feb. 17, 1941 in Kingston, Okla., to Robert and Eula Park, James was the youngest of six children. He attended Ceres High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps. He had been stationed in Maryland, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, and North Carolina and earned the nickname "Big Jim" from his Marine Corps brothers, and proudly served beside them during the Vietnam War. Mr. Park retired a 20-year Marine Corps veteran in 1979, and moved his family back home to Modesto. He owned and operated the popular BeeHive Restaurant in Ceres with his sister Virginia Carter. Later he accepted a position with the Postal Service in Stockton where he worked as a mail handler from 1988 to 2008. Mr. Park was a competitive skeet and trap shooter, and enjoyed duck hunting, barbeques with his family, telling a good story, spoiling his grandchildren, and watching Oakland Raider football. James was an active member of the Ducks Unlimited, the Old Fisherman's Club, and Lions Club, earning Lion of the Year in 1986.
He leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Linda Park of Modesto, his children, Steven James Park, Kimberly Lynn Dunbar and Robert Rusty Par; and six grandchildren, Preston, Kyndal, Tara, Spencer, Felix, and Charlie. He was preceded in death by sisters Mildred, Blanch, and Virginia, and brothers Melvin and Robert.
Remembrances may be sent to Optimal Hospice, 122 W. Granger Ave., Modesto, CA 95350.
-Ceres Courier/ November 23, 2011
Born Feb. 17, 1941 in Kingston, Okla., to Robert and Eula Park, James was the youngest of six children. He attended Ceres High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps. He had been stationed in Maryland, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, and North Carolina and earned the nickname "Big Jim" from his Marine Corps brothers, and proudly served beside them during the Vietnam War. Mr. Park retired a 20-year Marine Corps veteran in 1979, and moved his family back home to Modesto. He owned and operated the popular BeeHive Restaurant in Ceres with his sister Virginia Carter. Later he accepted a position with the Postal Service in Stockton where he worked as a mail handler from 1988 to 2008. Mr. Park was a competitive skeet and trap shooter, and enjoyed duck hunting, barbeques with his family, telling a good story, spoiling his grandchildren, and watching Oakland Raider football. James was an active member of the Ducks Unlimited, the Old Fisherman's Club, and Lions Club, earning Lion of the Year in 1986.
He leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Linda Park of Modesto, his children, Steven James Park, Kimberly Lynn Dunbar and Robert Rusty Par; and six grandchildren, Preston, Kyndal, Tara, Spencer, Felix, and Charlie. He was preceded in death by sisters Mildred, Blanch, and Virginia, and brothers Melvin and Robert.
Remembrances may be sent to Optimal Hospice, 122 W. Granger Ave., Modesto, CA 95350.
-Ceres Courier/ November 23, 2011
