Kenneth Joe Parks, Sr., age 80, of Max Meadows, VA went to be with Jesus on Friday, August 4, 2017. Joe was born April 4, 1937 in Kingsport, TN to Robert Hicks Parks and Agnes Virginia Armbrister Parks. He was a salesman for Virginia Foods, Inc. and Salem Specialty, Inc. in Salem. Joe attended Fort Lewis Baptist Church in Salem where he served as deacon and Youth Director. He and his wife took the youth on many mission trips to the Eastern Shore of Virginia where they worked with Spanish migrant workers' children. Joe and his wife Alice retired and moved back to their hometown in 2006. They attended Mt. Zion Methodist Church where they were made very welcome by the church members. Joe sang with the choir until he was unable to attend. Then he was a powerful prayer warrior. He prayed for everyone he ever met.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his daughters, Peggy Tompkins and Brenda Frazier; grandson, John Stuart "Bo" Repass; sisters, Nola Jean Parks and Audrey Thompson; brother, Robert Parks, Jr.;  his father and mother-in-law, J. Coy and Nina McHone; brother-in-law, Ernie Archer.

Joe is survived by his wife of 60 years, Alice Jane McHone Parks; sons, Kenneth Jr. (Alicia) Parks and Ronnie Parks; daughter, Kecia Parks Wimmer; grandchildren, Josh Parks (Christina), Shane Parks (Kaitlyn), Taylor Parks, Shane Steele, Melissa Long, Bryant Jefferson,  Brice and Blake Wimmer, Loren Frazier (Amber) and Alice Renee Frazier;
Great-grandchildren, Landon, Lilly and Micah Parks, Lucas Parks, Isabella Steele, Karissa Wohlford, Landon and Lincoln Frazier, Heather Woolard; sister-in-law, Ellen Branscome (Don), Linda Spiker, Marie Archer, Hilda Parks; brother-in-law, Franklin McHone   Margaret), Billy McHone (Linda),Warren Thompson; uncle, Garland Edwin Armbrister (Virginia).

Many nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at the Barnett Funeral Home with the Reverend Joe Carrico and Reverend Richard Collins officiating.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at West End Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Barnett Funeral Home, Wytheville, VA is serving the Parks family.