John Douglas Parkman

HENDERSONVILLE, NC -- John Douglas Parkman, 84, of Hendersonville, NC passed away at Mission Hospital Cardiac Center, Asheville, NC on February 12, 2013, surrounded by the members of his family who resided in North Carolina.

He was born on August 16, 1928 in Pembroke, MA to the late William Edgar Russell Parkman, Jr. and late Charlotte Reeves Douglas Parkman.

He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Frances Parkman of Hendersonville, NC; sons, Roderick Parkman and wife, Karen of Hendersonville, NC, James Parkman of Valdez, AK; daughters, Laurel Thompson and husband, Gary of Belington, WV, and Michele Kent of Valdese, NC; brother, David Parkman; sisters, Jean Miner of Plant City, FL; seven grandchildren, Alex Parkman ofForrestville, NY, Valerie Griffen and husband, Shane of Dalton, GA, Kelly Jewett and husband, Jonathan of Kaneohe, HI, Seth Thompson of Belington, WV, Bethany Matheny and husband, David of Clarksburg, WV, Iris Thompson of Belington, WV, and Cameron Duncan of Hendersonville, NC; six great-grandchildren, Leila and Dexter Parkman of Forrestville, NY, Elijah Watson, Scarlett Watson and Layla Matheny of Clarksburg, WV, and Grace Forrest.

Mr. Parkman moved with his family in 1945 to East Andover. He served in the military at Carlisle Barracks Army Hospital from 1954 to 1956. John Parkman was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in January 1958 in Rockland. He served faithfully as a minister and witness of Jehovah from then until his death.

John was employed by Boise Cascade in Rumford for 32 years. He retired in 1983 to pursue his ministry for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brevard, NC.

He and his wife, Frances returned to Maine for three years from 1996 to 1999, lived in Hinton, WV for three years from 1999 to 2002 and then returned to the Brevard/Hendersonville area in North Carolina. Mr. Parkman was known primarily for his whole-hearted devotion to his religious faith.

His friends also knew that he could do just about any job he was determined to do, even if he had to invent something to accomplish it. He had a great sense of humor, was a loyal friend to many and showed a deep love for his family. John will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

John was also predeceased by his first wife, Shirley White of East Andover; two sisters, Harriet Glover of East Andover and Lois O’Leary of Mexico.