James L. Parkinson

James L. Parkinson, 95, of Zanesville, died at 12:05 a.m. Saturday, October 25, 2008 at Adams Lane Care Center. He was born July 7, 1913, on Putnam Avenue in Zanesville, a son of the late J. Roy and Clara B. Parkinson. He graduated from Lash High School and Meredith Business College, both in Zanesville. He was a member of Fair Oaks Baptist Church since 1925, where he was a former Sunday School teacher for approximately 30 years, Charity Newsie since 1964, UCT since 1964 and American Legion Post #29. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1962 after 20 plus years of service. During World War II, he served with the 82nd Airborne Division in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations. He was a former POW and managed to escape from the Germans while being held in Italy. He was listed as "Missing In Action" for six months. Surviving are his wife of 40 years, Mary Evelyn Pyle Parkinson, whom he married July 6, 1968, of the home; a son, Rick (Janet) Parkinson and a grandson, Brent, all of Bolivar; a granddaughter, Jennifer (Gregg) Ress and great granddaughters, Reagan and Rachel, all of New Philadelphia; a daughter, Lisabeth (David) Williams; grandsons, Gabriel and Seth and a granddaughter, Naomi Ruth, all residing in Maine; step daughters, Vicki (Thomas) Harper, Ashli (Robert) Goetzman and Erin Harper; grandson, Ryan and great grandson, Tyler Goetzman, all of Powell, Ohio; step son, Dennis (Kristin) Amrine and twin grandsons, Joshua and Grant, all of Trumbull, Connecticut; Friends may call 4-7 p.m. Monday. October 27, 2008 at the Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home, 1271 Blue Ave., Zanesville and one hour prior to services. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at the funeral home with the Rev. Bob Buchanan officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Full military honors will be conducted by the United States Army assisted by the VFW George Selsam Post 1058. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fair Oaks Baptist Church, 1025 Woodlawn Avenue, Zanesville, Ohio, 43701.