Carol Wharton Parks, 76, of Waco, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2015 at her home surrounded by her loving family. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, June 29 at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, 1300 Columbus Ave. with Pastor Ron Durham officiating. Burial, officiated by Pastor Ken James, will be Tuesday, June 30 at 11:00 am at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, 1413 E. Irving Blvd at Sixth Street in Irving. Visitation will be held Sunday, June 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd, Waco, Texas.

Carol was born March 23, 1939 in Amarillo to parents, Carl Edwin and Leila Mae (Killgore) Wharton. She and her family moved to San Antonio during her infancy and she was raised there, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School and attending San Antonio College. She went on to attend North Texas State University where she graduated in 1961 with a Bachelors in Music and Music Education. Carol also became certified to teach elementary education. On August 19, 1961, she married the love of her life, Donald Curtis Parks of Barry, TX. Carol was a music educator for over 40 years, spending the last 18 with the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, teaching at the Holy Family of Nazareth Parish School in Irving. She received the distinguished award of the Dallas Diocese Teacher of the Year. Not only did Carol teach in the classroom, she taught adults and children voice, organ, piano and how to play woodwind instruments. She had many educational certifications, and eventually earned the certification to teach children with reading disabilities. She was a very gifted educator and touched the lives of many children and adults through her knowledge and passion for learning.

In August of 2002, Carol and her family were blessed with the selfless act of another, when she was the recipient of a donated kidney. That gift allowed her to spend 13 more cherished years with her loved ones.

Carol was very involved with genealogy and also enjoyed making stained glass items for family and friends. She loved to upholster furniture, refurbish antique furniture and was known a few times to take on the task of remodeling the family home, at times surprising Donald with her endeavors!

Carol was truly a remarkable wife, momma, grandmama, and friend whose grace and humor will be deeply missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl Edwin Wharton and Leila Mae (Killgore) Wharton and her infant son, Donald Carl Parks.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her beloved husband of almost 54 years, Donald Curtis Parks; daughters, Carrie Parks Holton and husband Kevin of Mission and Cathy Parks Bardin and husband Scott of Flower Mound; brother, Donald Edwin Wharton and wife Nancy of Pflugerville; granddaughter, Zoe Bardin of Flower Mound and grandsons, Austin, Chuy and Chris Holton; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and cherished extended and adopted family and friends.

In lieu of Carol’s love and adoration of flowers, if you desire, donations may be made to the American Kidney Foundation, www.kidneyfund.org.

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