Obituary of Nathaniel Lee Parks Jr.

Nathaniel Lee Parks Jr., of Boalsburg, PA, passed away peacefully at Centre Care Rehabilitation on Feb. 15, 2024 following a 19-month fight with cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer. Lee, as he was known, is survived by his wife, Diane Marie Parks (Kaminski), children Nathaniel Lee Parks III (wife Kerri-Ann) and Kelly Marie Mark (husband Nabil), and brother Scott Nelson Parks (wife Dolores).

Lee was born on June 9, 1953, in Baltimore, MD, to Nathaniel Lee Parks and Katherine Ray Parks (Bowes). His family briefly lived in Houston, TX, before moving to New Jersey where he graduated from Glen Rock High School in 1971. He then attended Washington College in Chestertown, MD, and earned a degree in English Literature in 1975. While in college, he met his lifelong love, Diane. They married on June 7, 1975 and moved to Connecticut for Lee’s job in the mortgage lending business. 

The couple eventually moved to Succasunna, NJ, where they raised their children and spent the next 37 years. Later in his career, Lee switched professions and became a financial planner. The couple fell in love with State College, PA, after sending both their children to Penn State. That combined with having grandchildren in the area brought them to Boalsburg in 2016. 

From the time Lee was a child, he led an active life, always being inquisitive and seeking to learn new things. He was an accomplished pianist and one could often hear him playing Billy Joel’s Piano Man in the house. He was an excellent golfer, scoring his first hole-in-one at Toftrees Resort in 2022 only to be followed up by a best round score of 73 in 2023, on the same course. Bowling was another passion, notching 13 perfect games and seven 800 series in his lifetime. He enjoyed his yearly trips to Ocean City, MD, the Baltimore Orioles, egg custard snowballs with marshmallow, spicy buffalo chicken wings, Penn State football and the New York Times crossword puzzle. 

Lee was an honorable and talented man who lived life to the fullest but nothing meant more to him than his family, especially his six grandchildren who called him “Pop Pop” and his two nieces. In his final days, he expressed numerous times that Marie, Aubrey, Deirdre, Brendan, Georgia and Leah, along with Samantha and Nicole, “meant the world to him.”

Lee will be remembered for his magnetic personality, charisma, humor and his affinity to dress in loud colors. Ultimately, his graciousness and kindness stand out. Lee would help anyone in need without question. While Lee will be greatly missed, the family is comforted knowing that he is now in the hands of the Lord. 

Visitation will be held at Koch Funeral Home in State College, PA, on Saturday, Feb. 24 from noon to 2 p.m. Following visitation, there will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. and Lee will then be laid to rest at Graysville Cemetery in Spruce Creek, PA.

Following the burial, the family would like to invite those who knew and loved Lee to join them at a reception at the Liberty Hill Clubhouse, 411 Beacon Circle, Boalsburg.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation: https://curecca.link/LeeParksJr