Louis Parks

Faith, family and country were the guideposts for Rev. Louis B. Parks, 95, who passed away July 3, in Temple, the city where he was born. Col. Parks, U.S. Army, retired, was a decorated fighting chaplain who landed in France in the DDay invasion, and came home to create a loving family, and to serve his faith unceasingly.

He served as a V.A. chaplain for 40 years in Temple, Houston and Kerrville. With his wife of 65 years, Laura Jeannette Wilson Parks, he continued to serve on the missionary field after retirement.

Death, from cardiac arrest, came just hours after a happy, loving day spent with Jeannette.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 8, at the Canyon Creek Baptist Church, 4306 S. 31st Street, Temple. Military burial will follow at 1 p.m. at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 Tx. Hwy. 195, in Killeen.

Louis was born June 11, 1918, the last child of Clarence and Lula Parks, of Temple. He graduated from Temple High School, and from Baylor University in 1941. He attended seminary at Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth.

In World War II, Louis attended chaplain training at Harvard. Overseas, he led military and civilian services in Ireland until taking part in the invasion of Europe, at Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944. In July, 1944, he was severely wounded by a mortar shell he carried shrapnel that set off security alarms the rest of his life while picking up wounded comrades under fire.

Though scheduled to return stateside, he talked his way back to the front, finishing the war in Germany, where he was among soldiers liberating a concentration camp, and entering Hitlers mountain aerie, Eagles Nest. In addition to the Purple Heart, he received two Bronze Stars and the Silver Star for valor.

Returning to Temple, he served many years as the Chaplain in the V.A. Hospital, where he met Nurse Laura Jeannette Wilson. They married and began a family that included three boys and a girl. In 1956 he transferred to the Houston V.A., where he worked, as head chaplain, for 18 years, before transferring to the Kerrville V.A.

Louis true Christian ethic of openarms to all, without judgment, and his sermons that were uplifting and entertaining rather than condemning, made him popular with servicemen and civilians of all beliefs. Throughout his V.A. career, he also served as supply pastor at scores of churches, of Southern Baptist and many other denominations.

After their retirements, Louis and Laura served as missionaries in American Samoa where they started a church school and in the Poconos.

Louis was a sports fan, especially of his beloved Baylor Bears, taking his children and wife to many games, and coaching Cub Scout football. He and Laura were constant rescuers of dogs and cats and one Easter chick that lived many years with them in Houston. They were generous supporters of Baylor University, including founding two scholarships.

The Parks moved to the Meridian Retirement Home in Temple in 2004, where they continued their adventurous life by taking many trips, domestic and overseas, including several to Israel. They loved cruises and made many friends. They rode rollercoasters with their grandchildren, Sean and Jillian, and loved it. When they drove to the Grand Canyon together in 2010, when Louis was 92, they avoided scaring their children by not telling them until they got home.

Louis is survived by his loving wife, Laura, sons Louis, Jr., Danny and Randy, the latter who followed his dad into the ministry, and daughter, Jeanine Dooley. He was preceded in death by Jeanines husband, Steve Dooley, and her children, Jordan, Candace Laura and Krystal Laura.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the charity organization of your choice. The family wants to extend special appreciation to the many aids, medical personnel and personal sitters, especially Alex, Gwen and Emily, who helped make Louis more comfortable in his final months.