Patricia Ann Pinkham Parker, 75, died January 31, 2025, surrounded by family after a short illness with leukemia.
Tricia was born after a summer rain on July 25, 1949, in New Boston, Texas, to Thurman (TC) and Jewel (Eitel) Pinkham. After reuniting at a New Year’s Eve party, she and Joe Parker were married June 28 in Greenville during the heatwave of 1980.
Tricia graduated from New Boston High School in 1967.
She was in the band playing alto sax. She also graduated in 1971 from East Texas State University. Tricia utilized her business degree at Frito Lay, Montgomery Ward and ETSU as a secretary, as a vocational teacher at R.L. Turner High School, but most beloved as an administrative assistant at Lone Star Gas, now Atmos Energy. After assuming the job in a temporary position to pay off a microwave, TV and VCR/video camera, Tricia gave the company 37 committed years – she took care of her “boys” like they were her own.
In her spare time through the years, Tricia enjoyed running/ exercising, dancing, traveling, researching, crafting and writing. She was famous for her poems. She was a Weight Watchers leader. Also liking to decorate, Tricia developed a successful antique venture with the help of Joe. She and sister-in-law Dana established Jewel Marie’s Antique Store in Bonham for many years.
After a firm foundation was established in her childhood at Daniel’s Chapel and Red Bayou United Methodist churches, she was an active part of Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville. Tricia was a Sunday school and confirmation teacher, bible study participant/leader, in the handbell choir, camp counselor, on various committees and children’s church coordinator. She also became active in Walk to Emmaus where she was a table leader and even lay director.
Tricia has a host of loved ones celebrating her triumph over death: her pride and joy daughter and son-in-law, Lauren Parker and Aaron Barta of Caddo Mills; granddaughter Madison; grandsons Aiden and Brenden Barta; brother Winston Pinkham of Houston; sister Opal Stimson; sisters-in-law Paula Pinkham of New Boston and Betsy Sterkel and Dana Nix of Bonham; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends like family. She is preceded in death by her dear husband Joe; an infant son Mathew Cox in 1982; her parents; in-laws Ec, Jr, and Jo Willa Parker; big brother Chester Pinkham; and idolized sister-in-law Peggy Pinkham.
A memorial service and hymn singing will be at Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville at 3 p.m. on February 8 with Rev. Brian Bosworth officiating.
Special thanks to Family First Hospice. Additional gratitude to Texas Oncology-Medical City’s Dr. Vikas Bhushan and Jessica Pelini, FNP-C, ONC. Their medical care provided Tricia success through chemotherapy treatments for lymphoma and a stem-cell transplant but also afforded her the ability to become Grandma Tricia.
Memorial gifts may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church-as your heart leads you: children, youth or mission ministries. P.O. Box 864, Greenville, TX 75403.
