Donald Charles Parkes

Donald J. Parkes was the 6th child of John and Loretta Parkes. As a 6-foot, 200-pound teenager, he played football in Boston leagues. He graduated from Boston Technical High School, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska, and Air Force and Federal Aviation Academy schools, receiving a master’s degree in safety engineering at University of Southern California. 

He piloted KC-135 aerial tankers and several other planes for the Air Force during his 20 years in the service. When health problems grounded him in 1974, he decided to retire. He was safety manager at South Weymouth Naval Air Station for seven years and a former manager for the Postal Service in Boston.

Maj. Parkes served with the Strategic Air Command for six years and spent the balance of his career with the Military Airlift Command. He flew C-118 aircraft, the military version of the DC-6, the KC-97 tanker and the KC-135. He and his family lived in Illinois, Alabama, New Jersey, Oklahoma, France, where his youngest son was born, and the Azores. 

He loved to catch striped bass and spend time with his brothers in his boat in the waters off Hull. His wife Jeanne-Marie (Saunders) Parkes said he cleaned the fish but she cooked them. He is also survived by two sons, Capt. John B. Parkes, III with the Air Force in Oklahoma and Michael F. Parkes of Hull and several grandchildren.

Donald passed away in his home on Saturday February 2, 1991 after a brief illness. His wife Jeanne passed away on October 11, 2023. 

Both are buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Roxbury, MA with other family members.