Robert Eldon Parks passed gently into the arms of his Lord on May 21, 2024, with his loving family by his side. He died at the age of 91. He was a handsome, smart, witty man who could make a friend out of anyone, and he had many, many friends.

He was born in Wall, Texas (San Antonio area), to Archie O. Parks, Sr., and Minnie Pearl Parks. He was one of six children. His twin brother, Jack Weldon Parks, sadly passed away at the age of two on October 27, 1934. Bob (Eldon) grew up in West Texas. He delighted in telling stories about his pet goat, “Picklepuss.” He also talked about Picklepuss giving birth to her kids and how excited he was about it. His sister, Francis, paid for his music lessons in the accordion. His family in West Texas fondly called him “Uncle Eldon.”

He graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a degree in Chemistry. He then served for three years in the US Air Force. A few years later he would meet his match in Jan Meyers. He loved to tell stories of their early dates and how they almost didn’t match. Both were headstrong, stubborn personalities, but eventually they realized they were right for each other and married on August 23, 1960. It was a union that lasted 60+ years.

Later they welcomed three children and settled in the North Shore area of Houston. He was an employee at Lyondell and later pursued other endeavors. Bob was Vice President of Antek Inc., where he developed the Digital Nitrogen Detector with a full US Patent in 1976. Antek Inc. marketed and sold the Nitrogen Detector. In 1995 he retired from Air Liquide Corporation where he was Regional Marketing Product Manager for Specialty Products.

Bob was a hero to his family and to his country. He served in the US Air Force as a 21-year-old, 2nd Lieutenant from 1953 to 1956. The family found out years later that he launched spy balloons over the Soviet Union and China during Project Moby Dick. He kept our country’s secrets for decades before noticing that the secrets were revealed in a TV documentary, so he laughingly decided that it must be okay to talk about his spy work. Bob’s sense of humor was wonderful! He was also a devoted husband and father. He took loving care of his beautiful wife Jan who suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years.

In his later years, he was known as the “Accordion Man” around Pearland and played for
Seniors and children in hospitals and on a regular basis at the Knapp Senior Center.

He is predeceased by his loving wife Jan Meyers Parks, as well as his siblings: Dorothy Lee
Cook, Jack Weldon Parks, Kathleen Francis Parks, Archie O. Parks Jr., PhD., and Raymond “Pete” Volene Parks. He is also predeceased by his nephew, Cecil Leon “Bucky” Brown. In addition, he is predeceased by his sister-in-law, Marilyn Palmer, and his brothers-in-law: Jack Meyers, James Peel, Fred Harnasch, Jerry Palmer and Jack Sample.

He is survived by his son David Parks and daughter-in-law Missy Parks, son Richard Parks and daughter-in-law Roxanne Parks, daughter Janese Parks, and many family members who will miss him dearly. He is also survived by his sisters-in-laws Sue Peel, Jean Harnasch, and Rita Sample, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The celebration of Bob’s life will be on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Crowder Funeral Home, 2422 Broadway, Pearland, Texas, 77581. The viewing will start at 9 a.m. Service will begin at 11 a.m.