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Mark C. Parman, retired teacher, financial planner and trainer for field labs, died in his home on 15 July, 2021 in Auburn IN. He was 86. The cause was complications from dementia.
Mark was born May 4, 1935 in Miamsburg, OH to Francis Milton and Mary Lois (ne Boyle) Parman. Following the death of his father in 1948, Mark and family moved to the family farm in College Corner, IN, where Mark graduated from College Corner High School in 1953. Following both his Grandfather Boyle and parents, Mark attending Miami University in Oxford Ohio, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1957. He also received a Masters of Education degree in 1960. Mark participated in the Miami Marching Band, playing tuba.
Mark was a leader in the education and business community in Springfield OH in the 1960s to 1990s. Seeing the future, he initiated installation of computers and computer education at Shawnee High School in the late 1960’s. Transitioning to the business world, he received many awards for his work in insurance in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. He later combined his love and appreciation of farming, by serving many clients, the majority of whom were farmers, in the greater Springfield, OH region as a financial planner.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Mark was an active member of the Miami Alumni Association (President’s Club member). He was instrumental in establishing the Miami Alumni Marching Band that performed on Homecoming weekends and filled-in for the Miami Pep Band during basketball season academic breaks. Mark’s daughter and oldest grandson followed in his footsteps by attending Miami University; five generations of Miamians.
Mark’s first marriage to Virginia Bond ended in divorce. He married his second wife, Marta Montoya of Cali, Colombia in 1992. Mark embraced his growing extended Colombian family. He enjoyed many happy times with them. He spent 8 months teaching English as a second language in Cali. Many members of his extended-Colombian family visited Marta and him in Auburn and surround sites.
Following retirement in 1995, Mark pursued both his passion for woodworking as well as dogs. With his wife Marta (ne Montoya) Parman, he established M&M Furniture, selling many pieces and providing many beloved pieces for family. These included a handmade cherry cradle where each of his three grandsons spent the first 4 months of life, sleeping peacefully thanks to Grandpa’s skill and love.
Always a dog lover, beginning in the early 2000’s Mark expanded his family by working with Labrador retrievers as field labs. This interest included involvement with local and national retriever clubs including the Back Water Retriever Club. Mark appeared to always gain a dog with the birth of each grandson. Winger, a multi-year national champion was oldest grandson, Nicholas’s dog. Following the birth of grandson Jack, Lucy, a yellow lab was added to the family of competitive dogs. Finally, after the birth of his namesake, grandson Mark, came Duce, Winger’s pup and grandson Mark’s dog. Duce and latest addition Boone, were by his side at the time of his death as they were in life.
Mark led a full life of farming, music, Ohio State and Miami University football, animals, both big and small, and family. He had a great sense of humor and fun, keeping his wife Marta, and many others, laughing. He also had a great sense of adventure. He went of numerous fishing and hunting trips with his brothers and friends. One fishing trip included his then 9 year old daughter into the finger lakes of Ontario Canada and another provided goose for Christmas dinner in 2005. He spent some time as a golfer and loved skiing for as long as his knees would support.
Mark is preceded in death by his parents, and a son, William Chris Parman (1992), and his first wife, Virginia (2017). He is survived by his wife Marta (Auburn IN); daughter, Rebecca (Scot) Jaworski, grandsons, Nicholas, Jack and Mark (Annandale VA); brothers, John (Beverly) Parman of Folsom CA and William (Carolyn) Parman of Chattanooga TN; four nephews, one niece and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
Mark had a few distinct sayings: “Life is better with dogs”, “Children are like puppies, raise them the same”, “You know the best damn band in the land, right? (OSU)”, and, based on his ascertain long ago about Miami being the place for daughter Rebecca, “Look, she stayed 7 years, got two degrees and a husband. Guess ole’ Dad was right!”. He liked to say these frequently and often!!
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at Pinnington Funeral Home, 502 N. Main St, Auburn IN. Visitation is from 11:00 am-12:00 pm with the Service at 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in the name of Mark Parman to the American Indian Relief Council or Rapid City, South Dakota.
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