Elizabeth "Betty" Mills Park

RICHMOND, Ind. – Elizabeth “Betty” Mills Park, age 88, of Richmond, died Thursday, January 7, 2016, at Friends Fellowship Community. She was born March 5, 1927, in Watertown, New York, to Harold and Edna Owen Mills. With her parents she moved to Richmond in 1938. Betty was a graduate of Richmond High School and DePauw University. At DePauw she was president of Alpha Gamma Delta social sorority and a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, a music fraternity. For a short time after graduation she was employed by Eli Lilly & Company. She was married to Byron J. Park, June 19, 1949, and they recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. She was a loving wife and devoted mother as well as being engaged in many aspects of community life. Betty was active in the work of the Women’s Association at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church in Richmond. She was a member of the AU Chapter of P.E.O. and the Magazine Club. She was president of the Board of the Richmond Cotillion and the Wayne-Union County Medical Auxiliary, as well as serving on the board of the Richmond Women’s Symphony Association. Betty logged more than 1,500 hours of volunteer service with the Reid Hospital Auxiliary, tutored in the HOSTS program at Test Junior High School for a number of years as well as volunteering in the box office at Richmond Civic Theatre. She delivered Meals on Wheels for several years in Richmond. More importantly Betty was always interested and supportive of her children’s activities and goals and never missed a school function, musical recital, or sporting activity in which they were involved. One of the special delights of her and her husband was taking each of their grandchildren on week-long educational trips. Following her husband’s retirement, they moved to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Fort Myers, Florida. In Gatlinburg she was involved in the women’s activities at the Gatlinburg Presbyterian Church. Betty enjoyed hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains with her husband and friends in the Retired Citizens of Gatlinburg. In Fort Myers she and her husband delivered Meals on Wheels for 15 years. Their years of retirement also allowed them to fulfill a number of travel dreams. In 2005 Betty and her husband moved from Gatlinburg to Friends Fellowship Community while maintaining their residence in Fort Myers. In 2012 they became full-time residents of Friends Fellowship Community. Over her life she had many interests including music, reading, following her favorite sports teams, knitting, bridge, dancing, and crossword puzzles. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Richmond and when in Fort Myers regularly attended the Sanibel Community Church. Although beset in her later years by uncomfortable and limiting physical challenges, loss of significant auditory and visual acuity and more recently cognitive diminution, she never lost her gentle and loving disposition. She was admired, loved, and cherished beyond measure by her husband, four children, 8 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Betty will be greatly missed by her husband, Byron J. Park; four children, William M. (Anne) Park of Lenoir City, Tennessee, Kathryn Ann (Dennis) Stephen of Centerville, Indiana, Carolyn P. (Tom) Alexander of Walkerton, Indiana, and Lawrence A. (Mary Rose) Park of Fort Myers, Florida; eight grandchildren, Rebekah (Erik) Dine of Hamtramck, Michigan, Emily (Hunter) Purnell of Knoxville, Tennessee, Daniel (Brook) Park of Knoxville, Tennessee, Ashley Stephen of Richmond, Indiana, Andrea (Rob) Einterz of Brownsburg, Indiana, Jeremy (Kendall) Park of Nashville, Tennessee, and Andrew and Elizabeth Alexander of Walkerton, Indiana; 11 great-grandchildren, Tirzah, Jude, Selah and Zoe Dine, William, Cates, and Asher Purnell, Kinley, Mila, and Rhys Park and Parker Jane Einterz; brother, Walter (Joanne) Mills of Bloomington, Indiana; sister, Carol (Don) Schlegel of Columbus, North Carolina; aunt, Dorothy Webb of Laguna Woods, California; several nieces and nephews; three step-grandsons; and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents. Visitation for Elizabeth “Betty” Mills Park will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. Funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church of Richmond, 100 North 10th Street, with Rev. Dr. Ronald Naylor and Rev. Dr. Russell Haitch officiating. Burial will be in Earlham Cemetery. A memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at Friends Fellowship Community, in the Community Room, 2030 Chester Blvd., Richmond. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Friends Fellowship Community Endowment, 2030 Chester Blvd., Richmond, IN 47374; First Presbyterian Church of Richmond, 100 North 10th Street, Richmond, IN 47374; or Indiana University Foundation, Attn: Byron and Elizabeth Park Scholarship Fund/ 0370008075, at I.U. East, 2325 Chester Blvd., Attn: Gift Development, Richmond, IN 47374. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Elizabeth "Betty" Mills Park

March 5, 1927 - January 7, 2016