William John Parks

Bill was the youngest of six children, spending his summers in New Brunswick, Canada. Immediately after high school in 1944 Bill joined the U.S. Navy and served on the U.S.S. Butternut in the Pacific Theater in 1945 and 1946. After military service, Bill returned home to Rhode Island, attending Brown University while working two jobs and earning an Engineering Degree in 1951. After college, Bill headed to the west coast, working several different jobs along the way, eventually settling in San Diego, where he met Evelyn R Cordts. They were married in 1957.

Bill spent the majority of his working years as an estimator for Rodgers and Davies Construction of Ontario, California. He had a love of numbers, spreadsheets, puzzles, computer programming and other cerebral exercises. He was also an avid woodworker, making numerous intricate and unique toys for his grandchildren. He was a self-taught computer programmer, and was able to reverse engineer the early version of the NFL quarterback rating formula, at a time when that formula was proprietary information.

Bill loved a good meal, loved his family, was a great provider, and though big and rough on the exterior, had a big heart with a kind and soft side. He was encouraging to those around him and curious about people and things. He was also a master of organization.

Bill was preceded in death by: sisters Dorothy Parks, Gertrude Sheridan, and Jane Holleran, all of Rhode Island, his brothers Sherwood Parks of Texas and Allen Wilford Parks of Florida, and wife of 42 years, Evelyn R. Parks.

Bill is survived by his sons Stephan D. Parks of Murrieta, California, and William T. Parks of Collierville, Tennessee, and his four grandchildren, Laura R. Parks of San Diego, California, Rachel L. Parks of Chicago, Illinois, Vanessa A. Parks of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and William V. Parks of Collierville, Tennessee, and numerous nieces and nephews.