Kenneth A. Parkinson

He was born May 10, 1930 in London, Ontario Canada the son of (Thomas) Ivan and Ida T. (Bell) Parkinson. Ken went to school in a one-room schoolhouse near the family farm that housed 24 students. Ken continued his education, graduating from Sir Adam Beck Collegiate High School, class of 1949. While at Beck, Ken played many sports including; track, baseball, football, soccer, but his main sport was hockey.

Ken went on to Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI to pursue a degree in geology and to play hockey for the Michigan State Spartans. While at Michigan State, Ken met Roberta (Bobbie), at the ice rink on campus. Bobbie was an incoming freshman who was pursuing her education while continuing her amateur figure skating career. Ken and Bobbie were wed in Kansas City and celebrated 70 years of marriage on November 27, 2024.

Ken had sports as a cornerstone of his life through his founding and participation of little league hockey in Lansing and Kansas City, coaching hockey, baseball and cheering for his favorite teams year round. Ken moved the family to Pittsburgh from the Kansas City area in 1982 to establish his career as owner of a successful industrial supply company servicing several industries including oil, steel, coal, chemical, pharmaceutical and food industry plants working with his wife and children. His expertise and interest led him to participation in American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), National Mining Association (NMA) and Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE).

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law, Shirley (Norris) MacMillan. Surviving in addition to his wife Bobbie (Vermillion) Parkinson, are his daughters Susan (Tim) Norton of Haysville, KS and Lori (Scott) Crawford of Dormont,PA, sons Michael (Sonja) Parkinson of Prosperity, PA and James Kenneth (Stacey) Parkinson of Philadelphia, PA. Ken and Bobbie have twelve grandchildren; Laura Nicholas(Chad), Tim Aziere (Brooke), Scott Norton(Missy), Anne Aziere, Sam Norton(Tanya), Casey Wah(Nick), Kelli Chimchirian(Josh), Kenneth Parkinson, Katie Parkinson, Evan Crawford, Lauren Crawford and Ryan Crawford, as well as great-grandchildren Kirsten Nicholas, Skylar Nicholas, Jamey Nicholas, Avery Norton, Charlotte Norton, Elle Norton, Eli Aziere, Robyn Norton-Zhao, Tatianna Parkinson, Brandon Love, James Wah and Olive Chimchirian. Their first great-greatgrandchild is due in October 2025.

A family visitation was held on Thursday, March 20 from 2-4 pm at Beinhauer Funeral Home, 2828 Washington Rd, McMurray, PA. A Celebration of Life and Interment will be Wednesday, March 26 at noon at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home & Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO. The Celebration at Mt. Moriah will be livestreamed and may be viewed by clicking the link below under "Services".

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to St Judes Children’s Research Hospital in Ken’s memory (stjude.org)