Sterling “Bud” Price Parks passed away peacefully on December 24, 2023 surrounded by devoted family at his home in Martinez, California. He was a longtime resident of Alameda before moving to Contra Costa County in 2014.
Bud was born in 1922 at his grandfather’s home near Auburn, Georgia, and spent his early childhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1931 he moved to Chicago with his family. After high school graduation Bud attended the University of Chicago for two years before volunteering for military service.
Bud joined the Navy in 1942 and served on four LST (landing ship tank) vessels in the Pacific Theater and the Philippines as a navigator and gunnery officer. He reached the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) and was the commanding officer of his last ship, LST #588.
After the war, Bud and his brother Ed lived in Fresno and then moved to San Francisco, where they ran a film processing photography business. Bud later became a Fire Protection Engineer and worked for Marsh & McLennan and then Clifton & Co Company. He retired in 1984.
Bud was blessed with two happy marriages: Edith Kelsay (married 1955-1976) and Barbara Cooper (married 1979-2015). Edith and Bud enjoyed bowling, raising Siamese cats, and spending time with grandchildren. Barbara and Bud shared a love of classical music and patronized the Oakland Symphony. They led an active social life and traveled extensively with family and friends. Bud was also an avid golfer (four times hole-in-one) and drove for the Red Cross of Alameda.
Bud is survived by his loving family including the Parks nieces and nephew, Ginger, Peggy, Bill and Jeannie; the Myers nieces and nephew, MaryAnne, Martha, Christine and John; the Kelsay family—Sandra, Kathy, Kelly, Valerie, Matthew and their children; and the Cooper family—Heather, Sean, Alyson, David, Paul, and their children. Included among the survivors are feline friends Pat and Mike, Bud’s sometimes-naughty cats.
Bud was preceded in death by his first wife Edith (1976), second wife Barbara (2015), parents Stiles (1980) and Fannie Lee Parks (1974), and siblings Fannie May (1986), Edmund (2011), Bradley (2011) and Elizabeth “Chip” (2021).
Bud will be fondly remembered for his quiet strength of character, his keen wit, his kindness, and patience, and his love of all cats.
Following a memorial service in March at Christ Episcopal Church in Alameda, his ashes will be interred at the church columbarium.
