Charles Sherman Parks, 76

WOODLAND, Pa. - Charles Sherman Parks of Woodland passed away Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007, at his home. He was 76.

Mr. Parks was born in Boggs Township, West Decatur, son of Clark C. and Edith (Waple) Parks, on April 22, 1931.

He married Marjorie Peters Cassidy on May 18, 2005, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

Mr. Parks education began in a one-room schoolhouse, Center School, in Boggs Township.

After graduation from Clearfield High School in 1950, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952.

Mr. Parks served in the Korean War and was discharged in 1954 as a corporal.

He then went to Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, N.Y., from which he graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary social studies.

Mr. Parks completed his master"s degree in elementary education at the University of Delaware, Newark, in June 1964.

He took his first teaching job in 1960 at Clayton Elementary School, part of the Smryna (Del.) School District.

Mr. Parks transferred to Smryna Elementary School before taking a job as a teaching principal at Kenton (Del.) Elementary School.

In the fall of 1969, he was named principal of Greenwood (Del.) Elementary School, part of the Woodbridge School District.

At the time of Mr. Parks" retirement from Woodbridge in June 1991, he was principal of the district"s Early Childhood Education Center in Bridgeville, Del.

Mr. Parks was a member of the Independent Bible Fellowship Church, Harrington, Del.

After moving to Woodland, he attended the Hyde Wesleyan Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Sarah Jane (Antes) Parks, on Jan. 4, 2004, after the couple celebrated 52 years of marriage; a sister, Leoria Dixon; and a brother, Edmund Parks.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Charlene J. Jones and her husband, Bernard, of Wilmington, Del., and Cambe M. Noble and her husband, Terry, of Pikeville, Tenn.; two sons, Timothy J. and his wife, Lynn, of Seaford, Del., and Thomas C., Chonburi of Thailand; a stepdaughter, Eva Cassidy Rhode and her husband, Tim, of Columbus, Ohio; a stepson, Ashley Cassidy and his wife, Jackie, of Ville Platte, La.; five sisters, Mabel Shimmel of Hyde, Viola Fidel of Niagara Falls, N.Y., Maxine Joyce of North Tonawanda, N.Y., Martha Bell Gallo of Amherst, N.Y., and Pyretta "Peg" Brooks of North Tonawanda, N.Y.; one brother, Nelson Parks of Sun City Center, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Hyde Wesleyan Church, with the Rev. Robert Croft and the Rev. John Croft officiating.

Interment will be in Friends Cemetery, Grampian.

Military honors will be accorded at the graveside by the Clearfield Honor Guard with members from the American Legion Post 6 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1785.

Friends will be received at the Bennett and Houser Funeral Home Inc., Clearfield, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. Saturday until the hour of services at the church.

The family suggests that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 26 S. 2nd St., Suite 102, Clearfield, PA 16830; or Clearfield Foundation for Health-Hospice, P.O. Box 992, Clearfield, PA 16830.