William Hugo Parkman, a former Southern Baptist missionary from Valley, died Nov. 20, 2012. He was 92.
Parkman was born Dec. 11, 1919, in Langdale (now known as Valley). He studied business administration at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University), graduating in 1942.
Afterward Parkman enlisted in the Navy, where he served in the Seabees in the Solomon Islands.
Parkman later volunteered for submarine duty. He served as communications officer for the USS Finback, which was then assigned to rescue American pilots shot down by Japanese aviators.
Parkman left the Navy at the end of World War II, entering business in Langdale. There Parkman met Doris McKoy, who became his wife Dec. 31, 1946.
His call to missions came in 1956 after visiting Mexico. The Parkmans signed on with the Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board), and moved to Manila, Philippines, in December 1957.
Parkman served as the business manager of the Philippine Baptist Mission, which included acting as a liaison between the mission and the Philippine government. The Parkmans also started a house church that still exists 53 years after its beginning.
In 1983, Parkman began serving as director of Luzon Baptist Camp in Bataan, Philippines; the Parkmans remained there until their retirement in 1984. The Parkmans moved to Decatur, Ga., where they were active at Decatur Baptist Church. They moved to Palmetto, Ga., in 2005 and became members of Palmetto Baptist Church.
Parkman is survived by his wife of 66 years, Doris; six children; 15 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
(Joseph Rhea)
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