“My one journey is over…my new one begins.”  Fairy I. Parkins, 91 passed away November 20, 2024 at Bluffton Hospital.  

Born during the Depression Era on December 22, 1932 in Findlay to the late Ira and Louisa (Schaaff) Roth, Fairy saw many changes. She saw horse drawn equipment change to tractors, oil lamps to electric, radio to TV and party lines to cell phones. Fairy experienced the atomic age, a man on the moon, sixteen presidents and the growth of the computer age. Growing up on the farm, she was always her Dad’s helper. She carried lanterns to the barn, drove horses to make hay and in 1949, a John Deere Tractor.  

Graduating seventy-five years ago, in 1950, from the first combined class of Cory-Rawson High School, Fairy always let people know that and that the Cory-Rawson colors were green and gold.  She got her first job in 1951 at Woolworth’s Dime Store then became a bookkeeper at Daisy Maid Bread when Edward Parkins was discharged from the Korean Conflict and was hired as a new driver. A love match sparked and on April 22, 1954, she married Edward Parkins who preceded her in death on May 4, 1986 from a battle with cancer. ▶︎

Fairy later became postmaster of Benton Ridge and retired after forty years at the age of 79. In 1994, she was named “Postmaster of the Year” for the State of Ohio. 

She never missed any school activities for any of her grandchildren and got to see them all graduate. Fairy enjoyed volunteer work and was active in many organizations, somehow always being named treasurer. She had seven sets of books that she accurately kept for several years, retiring from everything at the age of 90.  

She was a faithful member of Mt. Cory Church of Faith, was blessed by all of her family including nineteen great-grandchildren and was always proud of all of the friends that she made over her lifetime. Fairy always kept a sense of humor, sent cards every holiday or just for any reason and enjoyed life to the fullest.  

Leaving to cherish her memory are her four children, Bruce (Kelly Griffin) Parkins of Bluffton,  Harold E. (Tammy) Parkins of Mt. Cory, Mary Ann (Robert) Businger of Jenera, Cindy (Terry) Powell of Bluffton; nine grandchildren, Jeremy (Katie) Parkins, Brandon (Taryn) Parkins, Justin (Megan) Parkins, Joshua (Kelly) Parkins, Jerrad (Shannon) Businger, Jaima (Ethan) James, Taylor (Jenna) Powell, Hannah (Ronan) Farrell, Toby (Alyssa) Powell; nineteen great-grandchildren and a sister, Eloise (Tom) Sullivan of Swanton, Ohio.

Fairy was preceded in death by her parents, Ira and Louisa Roth; her husband, Edward Parkins; a grandson, Jameson Businger and a brother, Harold Roth.  

“The sun has set on this life and now I get to see the sunrise.”

A “Life Honoring Service” will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 23, 2024 at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton with Pastors Mike Noggle and Wade Melton officiating. Burial will be in Benton Ridge Cemetery following the service.  Visitation will be from 2:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 2024 at the funeral home.  

Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Cory Church of Faith or Bridge Home Health and Hospice.  

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.

The family would like to thank the Bluffton Hospital ER staff, the Swing Bed Unit staff, Bluffton Hospital Kitchen staff and Bridge Home Health & Hospice for their gracious and loving care of our Mother.  God Bless you All!