Frank Carl Parkin

Frank Carl Parkin was born November 27, 1946 in Payson, Utah to Frank Fowkes Parkin and Ellen Valeria Coombs. He passed away, at his home, July 3, 2023 in Millcreek, Utah.

Frank lived a life full of adventure. He proudly served in the United States Military beginning in 1965. He served two tours in Vietnam and was stationed in Germany, Fort Hood and Fort Campbell. While stationed in Germany, he would meet the love of his life, Maria Hoch. They would marry in 1967 in Germany. They would go on to have three children, Celia, Tammy and Kenneth.

Once retired from the service, Frank would become a carpenter and woodworker for Modern Display, Advance Display, and would eventually open a shop of his own, Woodworks Unlimited, that he would work on for seventeen years. He would later go on to work for TSA until he retired.

Frank was always a very creative and thoughtful person. He would handwrite birthday cards to all of his kids and grandchildren, sing us all a tune or two, a personal ditty for every birthday, and countless other heartfelt gifts. He had a way of making everyone feel seen and loved while he was here. Always staying busy, he would pick up new hobbies all through his life. In his later years, he was building models of barns and cabins out of his treatment vials that he had aspirations of painting, he started drawing again and who knows what else he would have found to keep his mind strong.

Those who know him will always remember the love he had for his horses. They were a huge piece of who he was and his hobbies. Frank rode in a riding club where he would compete in multiple events. It meant the world to him being able to share this with his daughter Tammy. The horses would be a staple in his family as he would take his grandchildren on rides, show them how to brush and feed them. He was and will always be a cowboy.

Carl is survived by his loving wife Maria and two of his children, Celia and Kenny, his siblings Fred and Marsha Parkin, Ellen and Darryl Larsen, Angie and David Rasmussen, Jan Grimshaw, Judy and Lynn, and Doug and Christie. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Nik Cantonwine, Cody Cowburn, Carly Cantonwine, Howie Cantonwine, Kenyon Parkin, Jessica Cowburn, Izzy Cantonwine, Rhylie Parkin, Edona Donaldson and Alana Donaldson and his great-grandchildren Lorelay, Raaven and Taysen. Frank Carl is preceded by his parents Frank and Ellen Valleria Parkin, his step-mother Vida Parkin, his daughter Tammy Cowburn, and his two beloved pets Smokey and Baron.

We will be holding a celebration of life to Honor Frank Carl Parkin on Saturday, July 15, 2023 from 11AM - 2PM at Wheeler Historic Farm, 6351 S 900 E, Murray, Utah.