Rev. John Storer Park
The Rev. John Storer Park, a retired Elder, died June 7, 2016, three days after his 83rd birthday. The Rev. Matthew Paugh officiated at his funeral June 11 at St. Paul’s UMC in Oakland.
John “Jack” Storer Park was born June 4, 1933, in South Cumberland, Md., the son of the late John and Rosalie (Storer) Park. He enjoyed growing up in South Cumberland along with his parents, sister and grandparents.
Park was a graduate of Virginia Avenue School, Fort Hill High School, University of Maryland and Wesley Theological Seminary. Billy Graham had a great influence on his life while in college and he gave his life to God and became a Methodist Minister.
In 1956, at the end of his first semester in seminary, he and Mary Jane Friend married and together they served number of churches, beginning with Wardfordsburg in 1957. From 1958 to 1961, he served the Bedford Circuit, then in 1961 was appointed to New Windsor, where a new educational building became a reality under his leadership. In 1964, he moved to the New Covenant Charge in Cumberland where he built a new sanctuary and educational building at Kingsley. From 1976 to 1981, he served Emmarts UMC in Woodlawn, then took a sabbatical and leave of absence. In 1973, he was appointed to Lovely Lane UMC (the mother Church of American Methodism) during major restorations. He remained there until retirement in 1990. Six years later he left retirement to pastor Barton UMC for more than a dozen years.
Park and his family enjoyed a pulpit exchange with an English pastor one summer in England.
In 1995, he and his wife moved to Garrett County, an area he loved, for retirement. He was a member of the Garrett County Historical Society.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years; a son, John Wesley Park of Finksburg and daughter, Jana Kay Kolb of Swanton and their spouses; and four grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church memorial fund, 318 East Oak Sat., Oakland, MD 21550.
Condolences may be sent to Mary Jane Park, 95 Sky Valley Road, Swanton, MD 21561-2045.