PARKES, Rodney Barton 1941-2012

PARKES, FRITZ, TOPPE, BECKER, NATION, WARD

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 4/27/2012 at 15:24:16

[Waterloo Courier, Thursday, February 2, 2012]

WATERLOO - Rodney Barton Parkes, 70, of Waterloo, died Tuesday, Jan. 31.

He was born Aug. 21, 1941, in Franklin County, son of Marvin E. and Arlene R. Parkes.

Mr. Parkes was a 1960 graduate of Waterloo East High School. He moved to Los Angeles to study at an art institute and later became an animator for Hanna-Barbara and collaborated with another design team on the original animated movie "Charlotte's Web." He returned to Waterloo where he was an animator at an advertising studio. He then moved to Arizona to pursue a career in telephone contracting. He returned to Iowa and started up Rio Communications with his brother. He ended up in Indiana, taking Rio Communications with him, and after 15 years closed the business down and went to work at Communication Products Inc., retiring in 2007.

Survived by two daughters, Jessica (Clay) Fritz of Brownstown, Ind., and Monique (Don) Toppe of Vallonia, Ind.; a son, Spenser of Evansville, Ind.; six grandchildren, Hudson, Olivia, Beau, Molly, Dylan and Rhonda; two sisters, Beverly Becker of Dysart and Connie (Brian) Nation of Waterloo; and his twin brother, Richard of Bullhead City, Ariz.

Preceded in death by a son, Rod R.; and a brother, Bobby Ward.

Arrangements were handled by Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service.

In his spare time, Rodney enjoyed reading and watching movies about the old West. His favorite actors were always John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. He was also a fan of classic horror movies like "Jaws" and "Halloween." He later took up the hobby of flying remote control airplanes, not so much flying them as building them. Fishing was also a favorite pastime that Rodney especially enjoyed with his younger son, Spenser.