Dana Parks III

Dana was born in Newton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, where he lived on Newtonville Avenue in a neighborhood full of family members. At a young age his parents moved to Salisbury, New Hampshire where he was raised. He attended Franklin High School in Franklin New Hampshire. After high school he enlisted in the United States Army where he spent some time in France. He later attended New Hampshire Technical Institute graduating in 1958.

Dana began his career as a computer engineer for IBM in Boston, Massachusetts. He took a temporary assignment in Stuttgart Germany in 1968. He lived and raised his children in Southborough Massachusetts. In 1986 he moved to South Florida and then in 1989 to the Research Triangle Park, Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. He married Dot Crawford-Parks in June of 1991 and became an integral part of the Crawford family. Once the Crawford grandchildren arrived he was lovingly referred to as “Pa”.

He retired from IBM with 35 years of service, but retirement did not slow Dana down. He was active with the Homeowners Association in his neighborhood, Harrington Grove, where he served on the Board for many years. He was handy around the house and would often be working on home improvement projects. You could also find him around the neighborhood replacing mailboxes for neighbors and repairing fences along the main boulevard. In addition, he moved cars for Leith Auto Group and loved retelling stories from all his adventures moving luxury cars. A special highlight was when he was given the task of driving a Maserati from California to North Carolina.

Dana was preceded in death by his parents Dana Parks Jr., and Gladys Rogers Parks, his sister Shelly Huntoon, and son Dana (Casey) Parks IV. He is survived by his wife, Dot Crawford-Parks, his children, Susan Young, Leisa (Lawrence) Hollings, and Tim (Kathy) Ossinger, also John Parks (Paula), Christopher Parks, Kara Parks, and Meghan Bennie (Stephen), 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren all of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Maryland, Colorado or Minnesota. In addition, his stepchildren John Crawford, Phil Crawford (Natalie) and Barry Crawford (Mary) with 3 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren all live in the Raleigh area.

A Visitation was held on Friday March 8th followed by a Memorial Service at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh NC 27612.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Dana, or a message of condolence for his family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.