PARKE M. BROWN
June 16, 1936-May 12, 2018
Parke Miles Brown, 81, Tangier, passed away peacefully, Saturday, May 12, 2018, at his farm residence.
He was born June 16, 1936, in Lafayette, the fourth child of Parke Theodore and Mary Eleanor (Sollars) Brown.
He was welcomed home by siblings, Patricia Ann, Bruce and Mary.
Parke graduated from Tangier High School in 1954.
In the fall of 1955, Parke entered Earlham College, graduating in 1960.
In 1961, Parke enlisted in the Indiana National Guard, and served until a car accident in 1965 placed him on reserve status.
In February of 1966, Parke joined Wilson & Co.’s Clydesdale six-horse hitch. He was the hitch driver who promoted Wilson’s products traveling coast to coast.
In August 1967, Parke was hired by North Carolina State University to do 4-H work in Franklin County, N.C.
He met Adrene in North Carolina in 1967. They were married Jan. 28, 1968. She was a foreign language teacher in the Greensboro school system.
In 1969, Parke transferred to Hendricks County, Ind., where he worked five years.
He went to Vermillion County for seven years, continuing with 4-H activities. He finished his 4-H extension career after 15 years in Fountain County.
Parke was a member of Tangier Friends Church, serving as Sunday school superintendent many years.
He belonged to the Louisburg, N.C., Jaycees.
He served as Bible chairman of Parke-Vermillion Gideons for 15 years.
He was past president of the Indiana Draft Horse Association, and a 12-year member of the board of directors of the Clydesdale Breeders of the U.S.A. He served two years as its national president.
In 2007, he was inducted into the Clydesdale Breeders Hall of Fame.
In 1983, Parke received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.
Raising Clydesdale horses was a lifelong commitment for Parke. More than 100 horses have been registered under the Woodland Farms prefix.
Most important to Parke was Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; his wife, Adrene; his family; Tangier Friends Church; Clydesdale horses; Woodland Farms; extension colleagues; 4-H families; Shorthorn cattle; and the Draft Horse Fraternity.
Parke is survived by his wife, Adrene; one sister, Mary Brown Woods; one brother, Bruce (Evelyn) Brown; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews in Indiana and North Carolina.
Parke was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Patricia Ann McVay Kistler and her first husband, Adrian McVay, and her second husband, Manford Kistler; and a brother-in-law, Dick Woods.
In keeping with Parke’s wishes, cremation was chosen.
Memorial visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at Tangier Friends Church in Tangier.
Memorial funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 18, at Tangier Friends Church.
Memorials to honor Parke’s life may be made to Tangier Friends Church, Parkinson’s Awareness Association or Parke-Vermillion Gideons. Envelopes will be available during visitation.
Care and arrangements have been entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, Rockville.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on May 23, 2018 8:05 AM