Paul William Russel Parkes
August 3, 1933-April 15, 2020
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” ‐ 1 Cor. 15:54‐55
Peacefully on Wednesday April 15, 2020 Paul passed away at Orchard Villa LTC in Pickering, Ontario. He is survived by his wife Sandra, his children David (Donna), Stephen (Cheryl) and Cathy and his nieces Karen (Steve) and Kim (Michael). He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren Virginie, Brooklynn, Benjamin and Kayla and his great‐nieces and great‐nephew Alexandra, Nicholas, Gabriella, Olivia and Madeline.
Paul lived a fervent life for Jesus Christ. He lived by the creed of God first, and then family, which permeated all that he did. His was gregarious with a big laugh and his kindness towards others always showed in a slow simmering under the surface throughout his life.
Born in the small town of Dunneville, Ontario to Helen and Robert Parkes, Paul lived a happy life with his younger sister, Martha. Summers found Paul in Northern Ontario with his cousin Peter and his grandfather W.B. Russel. As his “Papa” Russel built the highways north Paul spent much of his time on native reserves and discovered a love of nature, canoeing and fishing. He loved gardening and continued to plant his own garden in to his 80s, taking pictures of and tending to every flower.
Paul, along with his first wife Pat, lived and raised his young family in North York, where he cultivated a 40‐year career as a manager at the T. Eaton Company at the Scarborough location. He taught his children the foundations of Christianity and
ushered each of them towards a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
He spent his retirement years with his wife Sandra in Oshawa, Ontario, where he continued to pursue his passion of bible teachings, gardening and cooking.
His larger than life personality filled each room his was in. His kindness touched all those that knew him. He read his Bible and committed its words to his memory and his life. He wanted everyone to know the love of Jesus Christ.
Paul will be incredibly missed by his family as his life couldn’t help but touch each of them in so many ways. His children are forever grateful for the father who raised them so well.
We miss you, but we know today you are talking with your sister, Martha, your mother and father and most importantly with our saviour Jesus Christ – something you spoke about often and have longed for. Through Jesus Christ we know we will
see you again.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me shall never die.” ‐John 11:25
To Sandra and the Parkes Family, We are saddened by your loss and our deepest sympathy to you. Sandra we treasured the time Paul and you were in our Care Group. Paul taught us so much about the Bible and Prophecy. Now he is rejoicing with His Lord and Saviour. No more pain and suffering. We will treasure having known him. Love John and Louise Wiersma
View MorePaul had a wonderful deep laugh (hah,hah). As a tenager he took me camping and cottage in Temiskaming and Lake Superior and taught me to fish, canoe,flip a canoe, water ski. He took us along to drive in movies with his sweetheart ,my sister. He supplied me with socks and shoes from boxes from Eaton's. He gave me my first job at Eaton's as a backroom packing and delivery boy to selling small rugs to a commissioned salesman in heating and air conditioning. He taught me how to sell to become the highest producing sales person on the floor after the manager. I worked every Thursday and Friday night and all day Saturdays for 4.5 years at Eaton's Queen Street store all through my university years to become a dentist. Then I would work full time in the summers. With commissions I was making an hourly wage equal to union jobs at the time. I stayed at his home one summer gratis to save money. Paul allowed me to pay my way through University of Toronto and buy a car and have enough money for three months rent when I moved to Kitchener which he helped furnish through his Eaton's discount. He taught me about refrigerators and appliances , changing a tire and theology. He frightened me to death with his end of the world scenarios and as a kid I thought I would never make it to be a dentist before the Lord would come. I am now 68 and retired for 18 years but the last time I saw him at Christmas he still slipped me three discs on end time predictions. In heaven now I am sure he has his horse and sword and telling Gabriel let's get this show on the road. Paul you made me who I am.
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