Mrs. Isabell Lee Thorne Parks, 92, wife of the late Owen Ashton Parks Sr. and native of Tangier Island, passed away Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at Alice B. Tawes Nursing Home in Crisfield, Md.
Born Feb. 12, 1926, on Tangier, she was the daughter of the late James W. Thorne and Hattie Chambers Thorne. As a young woman, Mrs. Parks moved from Tangier to Wilmington, Del., where she and Mr. Parks raised their children. For many years, she worked for the former Kennards Department Store, and once their children were older, she returned home to the island.
Mrs. Parks was a member of Swain Memorial United Methodist Church, a devoted wife and loving mother, and enjoyed cooking for friends and family.
Survivors include her son, Owen Ashton Parks Jr., of Wilmington; sisters, Ginny Marshall, Gracie Pruitt, and Alice Crockett; brothers, Jack Thorne, Don Thorne and his wife, Evelyn, all of Tangier, and Bob Thorne and his wife, Frances, of Alta Vista, Va.; grandchildren, Jamie, Paul, Michael, and Stephen Parks, Carey Cline, and Carli Piech; great-grandchildren, Paris, Paul Jr., Jessica, Jake, Sophia, Sidney, Evan, Justin, and Nicholas; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by four children, David W. Parks, Jeffrey L. Parks, Hugh J. Parks, and Rose Lee Parks.
Funeral services will be conducted from the Swain Memorial United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Nona F. Allen officiating. Interment will follow in the Thorne Family Cemetery. There will be a visitation at the church one hour prior to the service.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorial donations may be made to Swain Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 199, Tangier, VA 23440.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements by the Williams Funeral Homes, Onancock and Parksley.
