Elizabeth Vaughan Tunnell Ruth Parks

Mrs. Elizabeth Vaughan Tunnell Ruth Parks, 96, died Thursday, April 14, 2011, at Homewood at Crumland Farms, Frederick, MD.

Born July 5, 1914, in Mobile, Alabama, she was the daughter of Ross A. and Eliza Vaughan Tunnell.

Mrs. Parks moved to the Washington, DC area in 1934 where she worked for the Civil Service Commission. She moved to suburban Virginia and was instrumental in the building of the Freedom Park Community Pool. In 1960, she relocated to Syracuse, New York with her family, where she enjoyed community service and served as Vice President of the Syracuse W'Intellect Club and was recognized as an award winning Toastmistress. Upon returning to the Virginia area, she worked as an office manager with the United States Treasury Department. In 1969, she made her home in Frederick, and was active with the Frederick Woman's Civic Club. She was closely involved in the creation of the Loy's Station Covered Bridge Park, which included the renovation of the bridge, in the 1970s.

Mrs. Parks was an avid tennis player in her youth; she enjoyed swimming and golf throughout her active life. She was a lifelong musician, playing piano, organ and accordion. She continued to play actively until shortly before her death.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon M. Parks; her former husband, Laverne M. Ruth; and brothers, Ross A. Tunnell and William N. Tunnell.

She is survived by her brother, Richard M. Tunnell and wife Len of Santa, Ana, CA; sister-in-law Margaret S. Tunnell of Andalusia, AL; son, James H. Ruth, of Colorado Springs, CO; daughters, Susan Miller and husband Gary of Broadlands, VA; Dorothy Shober of Frederick, MD; Kimberly Cole and husband David of Potomac, MD; Deborah Wulff and husband William of Ramona, CA; Valerie Smith and husband Landon of Kernersville, NC; Claudia Plafsky of Boca Raton, FL; and Beverly Parks of Germantown, MD; sixteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Keeney and Basford, P.A. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of Frederick County, P.O. Box 1799, Frederick, Maryland 21702.