Linda Trenthem Parks' Obituary
Linda Gayle Trenthem Parks, 77, passed away on April 28, 2026. She is survived by her husband, Marvin Parks; her sister, Terry Trenthem; her brother, Dennis Trenthem (Nancy); and a host of beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Billy and Louise Trenthem; siblings, Jackie (Maggie) and David; and her nephew, Marty.
Linda’s great love story began in an unexpected way. She and Marvin Parks lived just three blocks apart and attended the same church for 17 years, yet they did not meet until a blind date arranged by their Sunday School teacher on Friday, the 13th of April, 1966. Two years later, they were married in that same church, beginning what would become a 58-year love affair.
Together, Linda and Marvin shared a love of the outdoors and nature, family gatherings, Memphis State ball games (the University of Memphis, to you newcomers), and dogs—especially their cherished Lab/Hound mix, Puddles. Linda also enjoyed challenging crossword puzzles and Sudoku.
Linda worked as an Office Manager for a small insurance company, which gave them the opportunity to transfer to Orlando and later St. Petersburg, Florida. Their most meaningful years, however, were spent in the small central Florida town of Enterprise, where Linda and Marvin served as Teaching Parents at a children’s home.
They were houseparents—“Mom and Pop”—to ten children at a time, ranging in age from 6 to 17, working 24 hours a day on a schedule of seven days on and three days off. As Teaching Parents, they worked with the children on social, educational, and maintenance (ADL) skills. Together, they created a successful point system that reinforced positive behavior and worked closely with counselors and parents. The memories from those years were many—some hilarious, some heartbreaking, all deeply meaningful.
Among their proudest accomplishments was creating the Wilderness Outreach program for the children’s home, drawing on their own experiences with rock climbing, camping, backpacking, and whitewater rafting. The program’s success came from taking the children off campus and into the wilderness of northern Georgia and North Carolina, where they were challenged to adapt and apply their skills in a different environment.
The visitation with a reception in the foyer of Woodland Presbyterian Church will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 9, 2026.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to https://RealGoodDogRescue.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119 (901)767-8930.
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