Parke A. Close

Parke A. Close, of 298 Podunk Road, Trumansburg, passed away in an accident on the family farm on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at the age of 78.

Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania on October 11, 1930, Parke was the seventh child of the late Howard and Clara (Alexander) Close. He grew up in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania and was educated in the public school in Tioga County. He served in the US Army from 1951-1954 as a member of the 474th Signal Aviation Company. For 28 of those months he was stationed in Japan.

Parke worked full time for the New York Telephone Company (now Verizon) as a cable-splicing technician for thirty years, retiring in 1986. Along with working for New York Telephone, Parke and his wife, Lorna, owned and operated the family dairy farm and Close Hall in Jacksonville, New York.

From 1991 to 2008, he volunteered his time driving bus for Gadabout Transportation of Ithaca. He was a longtime member of the Jacksonville United Methodist Church and Telephone Pioneers. He also was a devoted member of the Trumansburg Masonic Lodge #157 F&AM.

Parke is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lorna Close; four children, Eric Close of Indiantown, FL, Effie (Close) Lueder of Trumansburg, Chris Close of Trumansburg, and Carol Close of Trumansburg; six grandchildren, Phalichia and Cameron Lueder, Ashley, Erica, and Amber Eldredge, and Trevor J. Close; a brother, Howard Close; a sister, Claire Maltese; two sister-in-laws, Helen Close and Betty Close; and close family friend, Sharon Neiss. He will be missed daily by all. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Vernon, Lloyd, and Hudson Close; and a sister, Julia Frisbie.

A Memorial Service, including Masonic Rites, will be held at 3:00pm on Monday, September 7, 2009 at the Jacksonville United Methodist Church with Rev. Nelson Reppert and Rev. Enid Zollweg officiating. A reception will immediately follow at Close Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Parke's memory may be made to the Trumansburg Masonic Lodge, PO Box 752, Trumansburg, NY 14886; Gadabout Transportation Services, 737 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850 or the Jacksonville United Methodist Church, PO Box 244, Jacksonville, NY 14854.