J. Orpha Parkin (1928-2006)

PARKIN, BRANTLEY, BARRETT

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 10/4/2006 at 07:08:07

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, October 3, 2006.

J. Orpha Parkin
Nov. 1, 1928-Sept. 4, 2006
J. Orpha Parkin, 77, of Lees Summit, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 4, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at First United Methodist Church in Ames, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m.

Orpha was born in the caretaker's home in a cemetery in Olathe, Kan., the day after Halloween in 1928. She was the youngest of two daughters born to Fred and Faye (Barrett) Brantley. She often liked to remark that she shared the same birthday with Mickey Mouse, who also was born Nov. 1, 1928, in his debut as Steamboat Willy. She graduated from North East High School in Kansas City, Mo., in 1945. Out of high school, she worked at the Kansas City Star newspaper where she met her future husband, R. William Parkin. Orpha and William were married on Valentine's Day, 1952.

While raising three sons, she returned to school and completed a bachelor's degree at San Jose State College in 1968. Her experiences as a hearing child of deaf parents led her to choose a career as an educator of deaf children. She taught the hearing impaired for two years at Hester School in San Jose, Calif. After moving to Indiana in 1970, she worked as a teacher at the Indiana School for the Deaf for 13 years. During this time, she completed a master's degree at Butler University. In 1983, they moved to Jackson, Miss., where she worked at the Mississippi School for the Deaf, first as a teacher and later as communication coordinator.

In 1991, she and her husband moved to Ames where she worked part time as an interpreter for deaf children and adults in the community. In her semi-retirement in Ames, she was active in the Ink Spots writing group, Big Table Books discussion group, Story County Friendship Force, Iowa State University Women's Club, Story County Adult Literacy program and Women's Circle of the First United Methodist Church.

She moved to Lees Summit, Mo., in April 2006, and during her brief stay there, she spent her time volunteering at Russell Flakes Child Development Center, teaching American sign language to preschool children.

She is survived by three sons; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and one sister, Kathleen.

Memorial funds have been established for Israel Family Hospice House in Ames and First United Methodist Church of Ames.

Adams Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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