Joung Sook "Susie" Park

Joung Sook "Susie" Kim Park, a resident at the Twin Lakes community in Burlington, NC, passed away in her sleep on May 30, 2025.

Susie was born in Seoul, Korea, the youngest of Kim In Kyu and Han Jeung Ryeol's four children. She emigrated to the United States after the Korean War to attend college in South Carolina. At Limestone College, she earned a B.A. in music composition and theory. She met her husband Ed at a Christian youth conference; they were married in 1959. They raised three children, Linda Sue, Fred, and Julie. Susie also took in her nephew, Jeffrey Kim, as a newborn, and raised him for two years before returning him to his own family.

Susie and Ed lived in Urbana, IL; Canton, OH; and Park Forest, IL. Susie taught piano lessons in their home to dozens of students and also held various part-time jobs. After moving to Friendswood, TX in 1984, she earned a Master's Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. That degree resulted in further contact with students, this time from all over the world, who adored her. One of her students was the wife of the first European astronaut on the International Space Station; as a result of that close relationship, Susie and Ed were invited to the launch of the space shuttle at Cape Canaveral.

They retired to North Carolina in 1996. Aside from family and friends, faith was the third bulwark of Susie's life. She was an active member of every church in her life, serving in numerous positions including elder, Sunday School teacher, youth group director, and choir member; she also composed music for church occasions.

Susie is survived by her husband of nearly 66 years, Ed Park, and their children Linda Sue (husband Ben Dobbin), Fred (wife Melanie), and Julie (husband Chris Hubble). She was in a mutual adoration society with her six grandchildren, Sean, Anna, Craig, Emma, Jackson, and Margaret; and her four great-grandchildren, Callan, Hattie, Maya, and Jonah. Although the family is now far-flung, they all came to visit and bring her joy during the last weeks of her life.

Her family is grateful to the Twin Lakes care community, especially Janci Minor, and the Authoracare staff under R.N. Erin Riley. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 4pm, at the Coble Creek Twin Lakes chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted by Elon Community Church, mailing address PO Box 625, Elon NC 27244. Online donations here: https://eloncommunitychurch.org/giving. (Do not use the selection box at the bottom of this page.)