Joyce Lillibridge Parks

Joyce (Lillibridge) Parks, 80, died unexpectedly, but peacefully, at home in North Port Florida Saturday, September 11th, 2010. Joyce was born in rural Hartford City, IN and spent her early years in east central Indiana. She was active as a cheerleader in High School and also found that same interest when she attended Ball State University in Muncie Indiana where she met her football-playing husband to be, Jim Parks. Jim and Joyce were married June 27th, 1949 and graduated from Ball State in 1951. After completing Jim's army tour in Germany, they set up home in Wabash, Indiana which was Jim's home town. Joyce was educated as a speech and hearing therapist and began her career helping young people overcome speech and hearing problems. Soon, Joyce's own children came along and she ended her teaching career to be an at-home mother and wife. Joyce and Jim had a wonderful life together, traveling more than 2.5 million air miles throughout the world. Joyce is survived by her three children, Kimberly (Dick) Poppa of Skaneateles, NY; James W. II (Neil Ann) Parks of Baton Rouge LA; and Jeffrey Kent (Ruby) Parks of Kansas City MO. Also surviving are five loving grandchildren, Elizabeth Joyce, Helen Frances, James W III., Olivia Noel and Allison Kimberly. Joyce touched the lives of countless individuals throughout her life and will be missed by family and friends for her engaging smile, easy demeanor and sincere interest in others. Joyce was predeceased by her loving husband of 58 years, James W. Parks, who passed away in 2007. Memorial contributions in Joyce's memory may be made to the Ball State University Foundation, Englewood United Methodist Church or ECHO in Fort Myers, FL.