JOHN PARKINSON III

John attended Adena High School and upon his graduation was accepted to Muskingum University. After a year, he entered the US Army, where he honorably served as part of the Army’s Nike missile program in Washington, DC. After his discharge, he returned to the family farm, where John maintained two family holdings throughout his life – a cash grain operation in western Iowa and the original family beef cattle farm that was established in 1824 in Ohio.

He also drove school bus for the Adena and Buckeye Local school districts before retiring after 31 years of service. During that time, he often drove the football team to their away games and filmed games for the athletic department.

As a life-long farmer, John was active as a member and office-holder in several local, county, and state agricultural organizations over the years, such as the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, the Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, the Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation Service, and the Jefferson County Farm Bureau. He also was also a longtime board member and supporter of Jefferson Landmark and its local branches.

For many years, John served as the President of Farmers Mutual Insurance of Harrison County and was a long-time board member of the Olive Branch Cemetery in Harrisville, Ohio.

In his community, John joined the Adena Lions Club in 1957 and was an exceptionally staunch and loyal supporter of the club’s sight-savings programs and initiatives. One of his favorite activities was to participate in the club’s annual fund-raising show as the interlocutor — a position he enjoyed over many years. He was also a multiple office holder in the Adena Alumni Association. John was a firm believer in supporting the community and received countless awards in the pursuit of their missions that demonstrated his dedication and commitment.

He was also a licensed pilot for a number of years, and made numerous flights and memorable adventures with family and friends in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

John was Presbyterian by faith, and was currently serving his church as an elder in the Piney Fork Presbyterian Church.

Most of all, John will be remembered as a loving husband and a devoted father of four children of his own, and as someone who quite often stood in as a surrogate fatherly presence in numerous kids’ lives in the community whenever they needed direction, encouragement, or support — or just a little boost of confidence in their day. Many boys learned how to be men during summers spent in John’s hayfields and how to appreciate the value of hard work done well. In cherished times spent with his grandchildren, John taught them lessons that will serve them well into adulthood and left them with treasured, witty “Pappyisms” to hold close. John never knew a stranger, and would always be there to pitch in to help someone in need. He lived by the words “Say what you mean, and mean what you say” and will be sorely and sadly missed but fondly and lovingly remembered by his family, friends, and community.

In celebration of John’s life, the family will be hosting a country casual visitation at the family farm at 7662 Twp Rd. 120, Adena, Ohio on Friday, July 11th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 12th at 11:00am at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisville, Ohio, with interment at the Olive Branch Cemetery in Harrisville immediately following the service. Arrangements are being handled by Borkoski Funeral Home in Adena.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial donations please be made to John’s favorite organizations — The Adena Lions Club, c/o R.J. Konkoleski, 42 E. Main St., Adena, Ohio, 43901 or to the Jefferson County 4-H Committee, 500 Market St., Suite 500, Steubenville, Ohio, 43952.

Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.bor koskifuneral.com.