Longtime physician Walter Samuel Parks, Jr. M.D. passed away June 4, 2012 at the age of 92. He leaves behind his loving wife of 68 years, Jeanie Wilson Tennant Parks.
Walter started his life in Galveston, Texas as the son of Mamie (Walker) Parks, a schoolteacher, and Walter Parks, Sr. His father was a medical student, later to become the beloved Dr. Walter S. Parks, Sr. of Breckenridge, Texas.
Walter attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry. He was a member of the University of Texas Longhorn Band and marched with the Longhorn Alumni Band every year until last year. Walter was a member of the honorary societies Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Epsilon Delta, and Alpha Omega Alpha, and the social fraternity Phi Rho Sigma.
Walter then attended The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas where he graduated in December 1942 with his M.D. degree, a few days after he turned twenty-two years of age.
Walter afterward interned at Philadelphia Graduate Hospital, there meeting his wife-to-be, Jeanie Wilson Tennant, who was a teacher of surgical nursing. One year later, he and Jeanie were married in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
World War II interrupted life with Walter's active duty in the U.S Army Medical Corp from 1944 to 1946. He was a battalion surgeon as a member of the European Theatre 1041h Infantry Division, and he held the rank of Captain. Life moved quickly when his unit left for Europe. Walter was captured by the Germans, spent the winter at Oflag64 in Poland, was liberated by the Russians, and returned to Fort Worth, Texas just in time for the birth of their first son.
Postwar, Walter had a general practice in Slaton, Texas and Breckenridge, Texas, followed by an OB-GYN residency at University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio from 1947 to 1950. After a short practice in Fort Worth, Texas, Walter moved his family to Midland, Texas where he established the Midland Women's Clinic which is still active today and is known for its quality of care. He was instrumental in pioneering the use of the Pap Smear in 1951, the laparoscopy in 1965, the electronic fetal monitoring system, and many surgical techniques. He was a Director on the Board of Trustees of the Midland County Hospital District and remains a Governor of the hospital's foundation. He also served as an elder in the First Presbyterian Church and taught Sunday School classes. He was an instructor of Human Growth classes at the YMCA. He was a member of the Optimist Club and served on the Board of the Midland-Odessa Symphony.
After practicing in Midland for years, Walter semi-retired in 1989 to be with his children and grandchildren in Austin, Texas. He continued to practice gynecology at Bergstrom Air Force Base. He retired from medical practice at the age of 9l.
He was a member of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fellow of American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Texas Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Society of the Laparoscopic, The American Medical Tennis Association, past President of the
Midland County Medical Society, The Texas Medical Association; and The American Medical Association.
Walter was first and foremost dedicated to his family and friends. He leaves behind his loving wife Jeanie Wilson Tennant Parks, and their children: Walter S. Parks III and his wife Linda of Durango,
CO; Robert C. Parks of Aspen, CO; Janice and her husband Frank Brown of Austin; and Vivian and her husband Larry David of Georgetown. He is also survived by his brother William H. Parks of Jayton, Texas; six grandchildren: Brian and Laura David, Parks and Paige Brown, Justin and Clayton Parks; and two great-grandchildren: Lucien David and Nadia Griswold. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Katherine (Parks) Sloan and his beloved grandson Wesley Parks.
There was not a more patient and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by all the people whose lives he touched.
A memorial service to honor his life will be held at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, 7127 Bee Caves Road, Austin, TX 78746. The service will be held Saturday, June 9th at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The University of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band.