Reverend Marvin Ross Park Jr.

Reverend Marvin R. Park, Jr., 98, of Austin, Texas died on January 16, 2021 of COVID-related complications. Marvin was born on a farm in Ralph, Alabama to a family with seven children. He shared stories with his children and grandchildren about the challenges of plowing the fields with mules and hijinks with his siblings. Marvin retained the soul of a farmer throughout his life, raising flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Signs of summer in his household were thick slices of homegrown tomatoes, as well as plenty of corn and green beans.

Marvin possessed a love of learning. He graduated from the Tuscaloosa County High School in Northport Alabama in 1942; the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1946 with a A. B. degree majoring in history and English. He graduated with a Master in Divinity (M.Div.) from Duke Divinity School at Duke University in 1951.

Marvin spent much of his teenage life actively participating in the Methodist Youth Fellowship. His preaching skills were recognized at a very early age. His first appointment as a Methodist minister began in 1942, only six weeks after he graduated from high school. He found himself as an 18 year-old college freshman, driving every weekend to preach at four churches in a central Alabama circuit. As a junior in college he left circuit preaching and took on the jobs of organizing a congregation and constructing the first unit of the buildings for Forest Lake Church in Tuscaloosa. He met Florence Bentley at the university and she won his heart. They married in 1945 and across the years had three sons – Ross (born in 1947), John (born in 1951), and Richard (born in 1964). Florence and Marvin worked side by side in multiple churches. They moved from Alabama to North Carolina so that Marvin could attend Divinity School at Duke University. From there, they moved to the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church where he served as the minister in eight churches during his fifty years in the conference. Because he was known as the preacher who could preach and read blueprints, he created the legacy of new or remodeled church buildings, in addition to his legacy as a spiritual leader. His interest in history led him to become well-versed in the historical context of the development of Christianity. The members of his Sunday school classes were known to joke that they weren’t sure if they were worshippers in a church or scholars in a history class. After his first retirement in 1988, he and his wife, Florence, served for two years as coordinators of fund raising at the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise, Florida. Marvin retired for a second time leaving this position, but still continued his ministry as an assistant/visiting pastor in churches in Deland and Deltona, Florida. He also was a guest preacher in a Methodist church in the Bahamas, a place that he and Florence loved to visit. Florence died on one of their many trips to the Bahamas in 1999. Marvin remained in Florida serving the church and maintaining a close group of friends. In 2004, Marvin moved to the Wesleyan Home in Georgetown, Texas to be close to family. He continued as a visiting minister in churches in Georgetown and the surrounding area. He was named Volunteer of the Year at the Wesleyan Home where he taught Sunday School classes, led exercise classes, set up the chairs for worship, and provided tours for prospective residents. He was named Chaplain Emeritus for the Wesleyan. He loved his life at the Wesleyan where he made many friends, including Ernestine Cox. He was also recognized by residents as a crackerjack dominoes player. In the words of his granddaughter, Emily, he had “a kind, gentle soul,” as well as having “a sharp sense of humor that he passed down to his entire family (for better or worse).” Marvin moved from the Wesleyan Home to Brookdale Assisted Living at Northwest Hills in 2017. The family is grateful to the staff at Brookdale for providing thoughtful care to him. All caregivers knew that the way to his heart was through a handful of peanut M&M’s and that his unwavering lunch and dinner choice was “baked-chicken.”

Marvin wrote that his life’s purpose was “to be a member of Christ’s family, a messenger of his word, a model of his character, a minister of his grace and to fulfill his mission in the world so God receives glory.” Whether interacting with his family, friends, and the hundreds of parishioners in the churches where he served as a minister, Marvin fulfilled this purpose. All who met him were fortunate to have known this remarkable man.

Marvin was preceded in death by his father, Marvin Ross Park; his mother, Thelma Katie Sealy Park; his wife, Florence Bentley Park; and his sisters, Loyce Evans, Grace Kirkley, and Nell Burroughs. He was also preceded in death by his good friend, Ernestine Cox. He is survived by his sister, Betty Watkins and his brothers, Mack Park and Sealy Park. He is also survived by his sons and their families: Marvin Ross Park, III; John Park, Leslie Moore, Emily Park, and Sandy Goetz and her son Dylan; and Richard and Stevonna Park, Rickell Park, Craig Park and his wife Brittany and their children, Saphira and Arya.

The family will celebrate Reverend Park’s life in a virtual ceremony on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 2:00 p.m., Central Time (3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and 1:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time). Chaplain Bishop Helsley from Brookdale Hospice Services will officiate the service. For more information about the service or to attend, please email Leslie Moore at : [email protected].

The family suggests donations to the Florida Methodist Children’s Home as a way to honor his life. A link for the children’s home is https://www.fumch.org/making-a-difference/make-a-donation/