STRAWBERRY KING
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Parke, brother, Jack Parke, and sister-in-law, Margie Parke. He is survived by his loving wife, Helen Ann Parke, his children, Cheryl and Jim Meeks, Sandee and Hank Sytsma, Bobby and Peggy Parke, Colleen and Terry Fulton, and Gary and Terri Parke all of Plant City; brother Dave Parke of Arkansas; sisters-in-law Eldora Nagel of Cape Coral, and Mildred McGuigen of Murrysville, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Jim and Xiomara Meeks, Erin and David McQuaig, Calley Fulton, Kristen and Brett Hitchcock, Neal Fulton, Matt and Jennifer Parke, Amanda Parke, Devon Parke, Jordan Parke, Joshua Parke, and Robert and Terry Holloway, and eight great grandchildren; cousins Bill Parke, of Ohio, Dorothy Janes of Plant City, and Bob Parke of Plant City; special friend and caregiver Rene Chavera; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. His family migrated to the United States when he was five and settled in Butler, Pennsylvania. He attended a one-room schoolhouse and then served his country in World War II as a Sergeant in the 63rd Infantry Division. Upon arriving in Hillsborough County, he began a career in farming becoming the 5th generation of farmers in his family. He founded Parkesdale Farms, Parkesdale Farm Market, Parkesdale Greenhouses, Parkesdale Apartments, and Parkesdale Packing & Cooling. He pioneered the first successful overseas shipment by air of strawberries to Europe in 1963, and he was the first to protect strawberries with overhead irrigation. He was very active in the community having served as a political appointment of the governor on the Coordinating Council for Vocational Education & Adult Education of Hillsborough County, on the Advisory Committee for State Farmers Market of Plant City, on the Hillsborough County Strawberry Commission as Director and Vice President, on the Advisory Board of the Strawberry Festival as President for two years and as Director for 40 years, on the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau as Director, on the Board of First Florida Bank as Director, on the Advisory Board for Hillsborough County Agriculture Department as the Plant City Branch Member, on the Greater East Hillsborough County Chamber of Commerce as Director, on the Boy Scout Advisory Board, on the Advisory Board of Congressman Mike Bilirakis, as a member of the Senatorial Inner Circle, as a life member of the Republican Presidential Task Force, Founder and Chief of the Dover/Turkey Creek Volunteer Fire Department, past President of the Plant City High School Athletic Booster Club, and past President of the Turkey Creek High School Athletic Booster Club. He received many awards and honors including the Honorary Chapter Farmer Award, Outstanding Strawberry Grower Award presented by the Plant City and Turkey Creek Schools' FFA, the Hall of Fame Award presented by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (first grower ever inducted), commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Wallace Wilkenson, Agriculturalist of the Year 1989, presented by the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Family of the Year presented by the Chamber of Commerce and the Strawberry Growers Association, the Agricultural Production Award presented by the Board of the Hillsborough County Fair, and the Board of the Strawberry Festival named the Main Exhibition Hall the "Roy & Helen Parke Hall." Many strawberry-shaped items adorn his home, which features bright red carpeting. He has a strawberry-shaped pool and was pictured in a National Enquirer article sitting in a bathtub filled with berries. The article's headline was "Berried Alive! Strawberry King Fills House With the Fruits of His Labor." Roy was a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Plant City where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He enjoyed his family, traveling, and working with young people. He proclaimed his greatest assets were "My God and my family." Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City; 813.737.3128.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Parke, brother, Jack Parke, and sister-in-law, Margie Parke. He is survived by his loving wife, Helen Ann Parke, his children, Cheryl and Jim Meeks, Sandee and Hank Sytsma, Bobby and Peggy Parke, Colleen and Terry Fulton, and Gary and Terri Parke all of Plant City; brother Dave Parke of Arkansas; sisters-in-law Eldora Nagel of Cape Coral, and Mildred McGuigen of Murrysville, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Jim and Xiomara Meeks, Erin and David McQuaig, Calley Fulton, Kristen and Brett Hitchcock, Neal Fulton, Matt and Jennifer Parke, Amanda Parke, Devon Parke, Jordan Parke, Joshua Parke, and Robert and Terry Holloway, and eight great grandchildren; cousins Bill Parke, of Ohio, Dorothy Janes of Plant City, and Bob Parke of Plant City; special friend and caregiver Rene Chavera; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. His family migrated to the United States when he was five and settled in Butler, Pennsylvania. He attended a one-room schoolhouse and then served his country in World War II as a Sergeant in the 63rd Infantry Division. Upon arriving in Hillsborough County, he began a career in farming becoming the 5th generation of farmers in his family. He founded Parkesdale Farms, Parkesdale Farm Market, Parkesdale Greenhouses, Parkesdale Apartments, and Parkesdale Packing & Cooling. He pioneered the first successful overseas shipment by air of strawberries to Europe in 1963, and he was the first to protect strawberries with overhead irrigation. He was very active in the community having served as a political appointment of the governor on the Coordinating Council for Vocational Education & Adult Education of Hillsborough County, on the Advisory Committee for State Farmers Market of Plant City, on the Hillsborough County Strawberry Commission as Director and Vice President, on the Advisory Board of the Strawberry Festival as President for two years and as Director for 40 years, on the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau as Director, on the Board of First Florida Bank as Director, on the Advisory Board for Hillsborough County Agriculture Department as the Plant City Branch Member, on the Greater East Hillsborough County Chamber of Commerce as Director, on the Boy Scout Advisory Board, on the Advisory Board of Congressman Mike Bilirakis, as a member of the Senatorial Inner Circle, as a life member of the Republican Presidential Task Force, Founder and Chief of the Dover/Turkey Creek Volunteer Fire Department, past President of the Plant City High School Athletic Booster Club, and past President of the Turkey Creek High School Athletic Booster Club. He received many awards and honors including the Honorary Chapter Farmer Award, Outstanding Strawberry Grower Award presented by the Plant City and Turkey Creek Schools' FFA, the Hall of Fame Award presented by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (first grower ever inducted), commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Wallace Wilkenson, Agriculturalist of the Year 1989, presented by the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Family of the Year presented by the Chamber of Commerce and the Strawberry Growers Association, the Agricultural Production Award presented by the Board of the Hillsborough County Fair, and the Board of the Strawberry Festival named the Main Exhibition Hall the "Roy & Helen Parke Hall." Many strawberry-shaped items adorn his home, which features bright red carpeting. He has a strawberry-shaped pool and was pictured in a National Enquirer article sitting in a bathtub filled with berries. The article's headline was "Berried Alive! Strawberry King Fills House With the Fruits of His Labor." Roy was a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Plant City where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He enjoyed his family, traveling, and working with young people. He proclaimed his greatest assets were "My God and my family." Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City; 813.737.3128.
STRAWBERRY KING
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Parke, brother, Jack Parke, and sister-in-law, Margie Parke. He is survived by his loving wife, Helen Ann Parke, his children, Cheryl and Jim Meeks, Sandee and Hank Sytsma, Bobby and Peggy Parke, Colleen and Terry Fulton, and Gary and Terri Parke all of Plant City; brother Dave Parke of Arkansas; sisters-in-law Eldora Nagel of Cape Coral, and Mildred McGuigen of Murrysville, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Jim and Xiomara Meeks, Erin and David McQuaig, Calley Fulton, Kristen and Brett Hitchcock, Neal Fulton, Matt and Jennifer Parke, Amanda Parke, Devon Parke, Jordan Parke, Joshua Parke, and Robert and Terry Holloway, and eight great grandchildren; cousins Bill Parke, of Ohio, Dorothy Janes of Plant City, and Bob Parke of Plant City; special friend and caregiver Rene Chavera; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. His family migrated to the United States when he was five and settled in Butler, Pennsylvania. He attended a one-room schoolhouse and then served his country in World War II as a Sergeant in the 63rd Infantry Division. Upon arriving in Hillsborough County, he began a career in farming becoming the 5th generation of farmers in his family. He founded Parkesdale Farms, Parkesdale Farm Market, Parkesdale Greenhouses, Parkesdale Apartments, and Parkesdale Packing & Cooling. He pioneered the first successful overseas shipment by air of strawberries to Europe in 1963, and he was the first to protect strawberries with overhead irrigation. He was very active in the community having served as a political appointment of the governor on the Coordinating Council for Vocational Education & Adult Education of Hillsborough County, on the Advisory Committee for State Farmers Market of Plant City, on the Hillsborough County Strawberry Commission as Director and Vice President, on the Advisory Board of the Strawberry Festival as President for two years and as Director for 40 years, on the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau as Director, on the Board of First Florida Bank as Director, on the Advisory Board for Hillsborough County Agriculture Department as the Plant City Branch Member, on the Greater East Hillsborough County Chamber of Commerce as Director, on the Boy Scout Advisory Board, on the Advisory Board of Congressman Mike Bilirakis, as a member of the Senatorial Inner Circle, as a life member of the Republican Presidential Task Force, Founder and Chief of the Dover/Turkey Creek Volunteer Fire Department, past President of the Plant City High School Athletic Booster Club, and past President of the Turkey Creek High School Athletic Booster Club. He received many awards and honors including the Honorary Chapter Farmer Award, Outstanding Strawberry Grower Award presented by the Plant City and Turkey Creek Schools' FFA, the Hall of Fame Award presented by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (first grower ever inducted), commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Wallace Wilkenson, Agriculturalist of the Year 1989, presented by the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Family of the Year presented by the Chamber of Commerce and the Strawberry Growers Association, the Agricultural Production Award presented by the Board of the Hillsborough County Fair, and the Board of the Strawberry Festival named the Main Exhibition Hall the "Roy & Helen Parke Hall." Many strawberry-shaped items adorn his home, which features bright red carpeting. He has a strawberry-shaped pool and was pictured in a National Enquirer article sitting in a bathtub filled with berries. The article's headline was "Berried Alive! Strawberry King Fills House With the Fruits of His Labor." Roy was a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Plant City where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He enjoyed his family, traveling, and working with young people. He proclaimed his greatest assets were "My God and my family." Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City; 813.737.3128.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Parke, brother, Jack Parke, and sister-in-law, Margie Parke. He is survived by his loving wife, Helen Ann Parke, his children, Cheryl and Jim Meeks, Sandee and Hank Sytsma, Bobby and Peggy Parke, Colleen and Terry Fulton, and Gary and Terri Parke all of Plant City; brother Dave Parke of Arkansas; sisters-in-law Eldora Nagel of Cape Coral, and Mildred McGuigen of Murrysville, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Jim and Xiomara Meeks, Erin and David McQuaig, Calley Fulton, Kristen and Brett Hitchcock, Neal Fulton, Matt and Jennifer Parke, Amanda Parke, Devon Parke, Jordan Parke, Joshua Parke, and Robert and Terry Holloway, and eight great grandchildren; cousins Bill Parke, of Ohio, Dorothy Janes of Plant City, and Bob Parke of Plant City; special friend and caregiver Rene Chavera; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. His family migrated to the United States when he was five and settled in Butler, Pennsylvania. He attended a one-room schoolhouse and then served his country in World War II as a Sergeant in the 63rd Infantry Division. Upon arriving in Hillsborough County, he began a career in farming becoming the 5th generation of farmers in his family. He founded Parkesdale Farms, Parkesdale Farm Market, Parkesdale Greenhouses, Parkesdale Apartments, and Parkesdale Packing & Cooling. He pioneered the first successful overseas shipment by air of strawberries to Europe in 1963, and he was the first to protect strawberries with overhead irrigation. He was very active in the community having served as a political appointment of the governor on the Coordinating Council for Vocational Education & Adult Education of Hillsborough County, on the Advisory Committee for State Farmers Market of Plant City, on the Hillsborough County Strawberry Commission as Director and Vice President, on the Advisory Board of the Strawberry Festival as President for two years and as Director for 40 years, on the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau as Director, on the Board of First Florida Bank as Director, on the Advisory Board for Hillsborough County Agriculture Department as the Plant City Branch Member, on the Greater East Hillsborough County Chamber of Commerce as Director, on the Boy Scout Advisory Board, on the Advisory Board of Congressman Mike Bilirakis, as a member of the Senatorial Inner Circle, as a life member of the Republican Presidential Task Force, Founder and Chief of the Dover/Turkey Creek Volunteer Fire Department, past President of the Plant City High School Athletic Booster Club, and past President of the Turkey Creek High School Athletic Booster Club. He received many awards and honors including the Honorary Chapter Farmer Award, Outstanding Strawberry Grower Award presented by the Plant City and Turkey Creek Schools' FFA, the Hall of Fame Award presented by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (first grower ever inducted), commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Wallace Wilkenson, Agriculturalist of the Year 1989, presented by the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Family of the Year presented by the Chamber of Commerce and the Strawberry Growers Association, the Agricultural Production Award presented by the Board of the Hillsborough County Fair, and the Board of the Strawberry Festival named the Main Exhibition Hall the "Roy & Helen Parke Hall." Many strawberry-shaped items adorn his home, which features bright red carpeting. He has a strawberry-shaped pool and was pictured in a National Enquirer article sitting in a bathtub filled with berries. The article's headline was "Berried Alive! Strawberry King Fills House With the Fruits of His Labor." Roy was a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Plant City where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He enjoyed his family, traveling, and working with young people. He proclaimed his greatest assets were "My God and my family." Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City; 813.737.3128.
Gravesite Details
Cause of death: heart attack
