Roy Glenn Parks Jr.'s Obituary
Roy Glenn Parks Jr., age 86 of Rehoboth Beach, DE, passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at his home. He was born on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1934 in Hopeton, VA, son of the late Roy G. and Kathleen Parks.
Roy was a proud UVA alumnus, receiving his undergraduate degree from McIntire School of Commerce in 1956 and his Master's degree from Landscape Architecture in 1976. He began his career in investment banking and later became majority owner and president of a landscaping and landscape architecture firm. Roy also owned and operated Virginia’s first shellfish aquaculture firm. He had environmental concerns throughout his life, despite being a successful businessman. He would say, “I don’t think there’s a conflict between strong environmental concerns and good business “.
Roy was a proud humanist, atheist, committed to social justice for all, and liked to say of his beliefs, “ I stayed on the right side of history “. He was a very active, generous member of the Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware, where he continued to support social justice for all. On the lighter side, Roy loved all forms of arts and entertainment. He was a voracious book reader and loved the ocean. Roy and a friend crossed the Atlantic on a Catamaran they bought just for that journey, and he also traveled extensively to pursue his avid fly fishing hobby, making friends throughout all his travels. He was “Daddy” to a series of Vizslas, Hungarian hunting dogs, throughout his adult life. His last fur baby, Tasha, preceded him in death two years ago. Roy will be sorely missed by many people of all different stripes, for his candor, intelligence, humor, feistiness, and generosity, but his spirit will remain with us. May we all carry forward his goal of environmental and social justice for all.
All services will be private.
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