Edgar Knowles Parks III

Edgar Knowles Parks III passed away early in the morning of December 6th 2021 in the arms of the love of his life, Carol and beside his two children, Julie and Elliot, in his quiet family room at his home in Fairfax, Virginia. He was 74 years old.

Born on January 18th 1947 in Fort Worth, Texas, Ed was the only child of Army Air Corps Major Edgar Knowles Parks Jr. and Patricia Grady Parks. Ed grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, graduated from Georgetown University on a ROTC scholarship and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army in 1968. Ed deployed to Vietnam as an Army Ranger where he led his platoon of soldiers into combat, was severely injured and awarded the Purple Heart. Ed served honorably with the US Army First Infantry Division, and maintained a strong commitment to service throughout his life. Ed had the opportunity to reconnect with several members of his platoon nearly 50 years later. It was one of the most meaningful experiences of his life.

Upon returning from war, Ed obtained a Juris Doctorate from William & Mary Law School and served as an attorney for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington DC where he met and fell in love with Carol at a local tennis court one afternoon. The couple married little under a year later in 1980 after which Ed accepted a position as a Corporate Staff Attorney with Mobile Oil Corporation in Houston, Texas. It was the first of many moves with Mobile that took Ed, Carol, Julie and Elliot all over the world, from Houston to Abu Dhabi to Jakarta and to New Orleans.

While living in New Orleans, Ed continued his professional education at Tulane University Law School, earning his Masters of Law (LLM) in Environmental Law in 1995. Following his years with Mobile Oil, Ed once again volunteered to serve his country, this time as a legal advisor to the US Government’s mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. His work in Afghanistan helped lay the foundation for the country’s constitution and protection of its people.

Ed loved his family and friends fiercely and was a curious, humble and driven man. He was an avid and admittedly mediocre golfer, ice cream aficionado, and wholly committed to ensuring he was armed with the best dad-joke/pun for whatever the conversation. He was immeasurably proud of the family he built, deeply devoted to his beautiful wife of 42 years and tickled pink at the thought that he had five gorgeous grandchildren who knew him as their Pop Pop. A quiet man with a beautiful mind, Ed accomplished what he set out to do - he left this world better than he found it. We will miss him; we already do; and we are so proud that we enjoyed the privilege of his company for the 74 too short years he was with us here.

Ed is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Julie Parks Hunter (Anthony); son, Elliot Fleming Parks (Aimee) and grandchildren, Henry Elliot Hunter (8), Ruby Quinn Hunter (6), Emmet Knowles Parks (5), Ada Louise Parks (2) and Celia Jacqueline Parks (1).

In lieu of flowers, the Parks family encourages all who can to honor the heroes who have served abroad and at home, especially as they transition into civilian life. Donations can be made in Ed’s honor to one of two charitable organizations particularly close to the Parks family which include:

FourBlock is a nation-wide community of veterans and employers dedicated to transforming the veteran transition process: www.FourBlock.org

The Travis Manion Foundation empowers veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations: www.TravisManion.org

Ed will be buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery over the summer. The Parks family will provide updates to Ed’s friends and loved ones with regard to the location of the Arlington National service as we learn them.