Larry Morris Parkin of Baldwin City, KS, passed away on Sept. 10, 2013. Larry was born on Sept. 21, 1934, in Creston, Iowa, to Lyle and Florence (Morris) Parkin. He graduated from high school in Grand Island, NE in 1952. He attended Baker University, where he met his wife Kay and graduated in 1956. He also attended Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program in 1985-86.
Larry was employed by S.S. Kresge Corp. in Sept. 1956 as a management trainee. He retired from K-Mart Corp. in Jan. 1991 as Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors.
Larry and Kay moved to rural Baldwin City, KS, in February, 1991. Along with his daughter Peggy he raised Haflinger horses. The family enjoyed raising and showing the horses for many years.
He served as a Trustee at Baker University from 1989-97 and from 2007 to present. He was Chairman of the Board from 1993-95.
He leaves his wife, Kay of 58 years, daughters Karin Bettis and husband Mike, Baldwin City, KS, Peggy Keller and husband Matt, Baldwin City, KS; three grand children, Christopher Bettis, Norfolk, VA, Caroline Bettis, Des Moines, IA and Radie Keller, Baldwin City, KS; and his younger brother Lou Parkin and his wife Deane of Overland Park, KS, and many friends and colleagues.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the “Kay Norton Parkin and Larry M. Parkin Endowed Scholarship” at Baker University, PO Box 65, Baldwin City, KS 66006 or the Lawrence Humane Society.
Services will be held at Rice Auditorium on the campus of Baker University on Tuesday, Sept, 17, 2013, at 2 pm.
