William “Bill” Henry Park

William “Bill” Henry Park, age 94 of Bowie, Maryland, passed away peacefully at Telford Terrace Nursing Home (Saint Andrews Retirement Community) in Richmond, on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2024. A proud 7th-generation Kentuckian, Bill was born to William Holton Park and Elveree “Dolly” Collins Durham on February 16, 1930, in Richmond. He lived on Goggins Lane (Gabby Place, 1929-1941) and attended Model Training School in Richmond, through 6th grade (1935-1942). Bill’s family moved to Trapp, where he attended Trapp High School in 7th and 8th grades (1942-1943). Bill’s family returned to Richmond (Goggins Lane off of Jack’s Creek Pike) in 1945, where he finished high school at Model Training School, Class of 1948 (1945- 1948). Bill attended Eastern Kentucky State College (now Eastern Kentucky University) from 1948 to 1953, majoring in Chemistry and Math.

While at EKU, he was enrolled in Army ROTC and received a regular commission as a U.S. Army Officer (Second Lieutenant) in the Corps of Engineers. Bill was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG). He spent over 15 years on active duty, serving at Ft. Belvoir, VA; Ft. Campbell, KY; in both North and South Korea during the Korean War (1953); and later in Japan (1954-1956). Bill returned to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO for a short time before spending three years at the National Security Agency (NSA) at Ft. Meade, MD where he met his lovely Italian-American bride, Frances Theresa Bell (Prioliello) who was working as a Registered Medical Technologist at the Ft. Meade Army Hospital. They married at the Ft. Meade Post Chapel on August 31, 1957. Bill then attended Army Flight School at Camp Gary, San Marcos, TX, where his first son, William Douglas, was born in 1959. Bill returned to Ft. Belvoir, spending a year attending the Advanced Engineer Officers Course.

Following his studies at Ft. Belvoir, now Captain Park and his wife and eldest son moved to Stuttgart, Germany, where they resided in Ludwigsburg. While in Germany, their daughter, Veronica Lynn, was born in Bad Cannstatt in 1961. Bill and his family returned to the U.S., residing in Willingboro, NJ, where he served at the Defense Clothing and Textile Supply Center and Deputy Post Engineer for two years, just Northeast of Philadelphia, PA, in South Jersey. Bill and Fran’s youngest son, David Edward, was born in Willingboro, NJ, in 1964. From 1965-1967 (Vietnam War), Bill and family lived in Bangkok, Thailand, where he served as the Logistical Programmer & Advisor to the Royal Thailand Engineers.

Returning to Baltimore, MD in 1967, Bill served as the Engineer Advisor to the Maryland National Guard and lived in Bowie, MD between Annapolis and Washington, D.C. In 1967, having served his country honorably and faithfully, he transitioned from the Army and began working for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a newly formed government agency, that same year. Bill served there until 1992 as the Board’s first Chief of Administration Operations Division as well as chief of other administration and management divisions. He retired as the Director, Operations and Facilities Division in 1992 with nearly 40 years of total Federal Service. Upon his retirement, he was honored with a personal, congratulatory letter from then-President George W. Bush Sr. and his wife, Barbara.

Bill was active in the Kentucky Society of Washington, D.C. for over 40 years, holding most offices in this noble organization, including the Office of President. He was selected by three Commonwealth of Kentucky Governors as an Honorary Kentucky Colonel.” Bill was often affectionately called “Colonel” by his friends.

Bill loved genealogy and with his eldest son, Doug, spent over 30 years researching his family’s heritage in the field and in archives (1530-present day) including co-authoring several books, manuscripts and donating them to numerous state historical societies and collections.

He was a passionate antique coffee can and international coin collector, enjoyed traveling, reading, and spending time with his many friends and neighbors, who adored him for his gentle, loving personality, loyalty, and generosity. Bill was a faithful, loving family man and friend to everyone he met. He was a selfless man of steadfast character and” always more concerned with the welfare of others before himself. He had a wonderfully entertaining sense of humor. Fun-loving, he enjoyed Saint Patrick’s Day festivities, the Kentucky Derby, life in the 0utdoors (outdoorsman, naturalist), history, and trivia.

Bill was a selfless, loving, righteous, God-fearing man as one could ever hope to cross paths with. He loved life for all of the right reasons, and his hallmark was the wonderful way he treated and cared for others. And he extended his hand to all, regardless of social status, color, gender, creed, or ethnicity. His sense of character and loyalty were above reproach too…he always knew right from wrong and lived his life honorably, with uncompromising integrity, and utmost loyalty and dedication toward his friends, family, and profession. His word was his bond and he never failed to lead by example, not caring what the masses, who took the easy road, were saying or doing, in the slightest. He was a farmer’s son; an Army Soldier (TWO conflicts--Korean War and Vietnam War) with a rock-solid work ethic; and a model citizen with an undying love for God and his Country.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife and best friend, Frances Theresa Bell, after years of suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, in which Bill was the sole caregiver; sister, Martha Park Lamb; brother, James Wesley Park; father, William Holton Park; mother, Elveree “Dolly” Durham-Park; daughter-in law, Carol Hall-Park (children, Meagan Park-Loomis, Haley Park), mother-in-law, Angela Veronica Padovini-Bell, father-in-law, Samuel Robert Bell; brothers-in-law, Herman Joseph DeProspero and Rev. Edward Michael Bell; sister-in-law, Betty Jean Bell-DeProspero; nephew, Herman Anthony DeProspero; niece Christal Veronica DeProspero-Nagy; and his Special Little Angel, Great Granddaughter, Nevaeh Faith Park.

He is survived by his eldest son, William “Doug” Park (wife, Pamela Long-Park) and their four children—Brandon (wife, Amy Snyder-Park); Brittany, Bryanna (husband, Layne Veneri), and Brayden (wife, Kirstein Sendling-Park); daughter, Veronica Park Massie—three children, Lauren Long-Hughes; Wyatt Massie (wife, Kayla Rohr-Massie); and Makayla Massie-Tinder (husband, Kaleb Tinder); son, David Park--two children (wife, Debi Park)—Meagan Park (husband, Taylor Loomis) and Haley Park; and nephew, Phillip “Michael” Lamb (wife, Ann Carney-Lamb).

In addition to Bill’s nine grandchildren above, he is survived by nine great grandchildren—Dakota Kidd (Brittany Park and Timothy Kidd); Myah Park and Shaelynn Park (Brandon Park and Amy Snyder-Park); Axl Hughes and Cole Hughes (Lauren Long-Hughes and Greg Hughes); Farris Husson and Mila Husson (Brittany Park and Jon Husson), Avery Massie Tinder (Makayla Massie-Tinder and Kaleb Tinder), and Joya Massie (Wyatt Massie and Kayla Rohr-Massie).

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 26, at the Combs, Parsons, and Collins Funeral Home, 328 West Main Street, Richmond.  The family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m.. Following the service, Bill’s remains and those of his wife, Frances, will be laid to rest with Military Honors at Richmond Cemetery, 606 East Main Street, Richmond. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be to the Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Fund online at: https://www.alumni.eku.edu/s/1763/24/home.aspx?sid=1763&gid=2 in Bill’s name (William H. Park). Memorial Donations may also be made to the Alzheimer’s Society in Bill’s wife’s name, Frances T. Park, online at http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp; by phone at 1-800-272-3900, or via postal mail by sending a check to Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.