Lilian Esther Parks

Lil Parks lived life the same way she drove — fast, and creatively. So buckle up and hang tight because we’ve got 94 years to cover.

Lilian Esther Dimpfl was born April 19th, 1930 to Suzanna and Maximillian Dimpfl in San Francisco CA

The youngest of six children, Lil learned early that life was exciting and full of adventure. Whizzing past street cars on roller skates, tagging along with her siblings to the park only to end up in a pond, and teaching herself to drive at 14 using her brother’s car. Watch out roads, here she comes!

There was also one day when she decided to hike up a ski hill before the lifts opened to get first tracks, breaking her leg on the trip down. Years later her leg would ache from the injury, but when asked even then if it was worth it, the answer was always a laughing, eyes sparkling, “You bet!”.

Always in a hurry, she graduated high school early and headed to San Jose State University to study art, a passion inspired by her parents. After earning her BFA Lil set her sights on Europe, attending University of London, Slade School and Chelsea School of Fine Arts. She modeled for magazines and traded pen-and-ink sketches of the city around her for cigarettes and chocolate. A girl’s got to live.

Once London had been exhausted of experiences, Lil hopped a cargo ship back home to San Francisco, passing through the Panama Canal along the way. As the youngest (and perhaps only) female on the ship, she was well-spoiled by the crew. After a quick hello to her parents and family Lil hopped another boat, this time to Hawaii. Friends – and her future – were waiting there for her.

As she told the story many times, this true definition of a starving artist was wooed by the smell of a delicious and decidedly non-Hawaiian spaghetti sauce bubbling on a stove nearby. Never shy, she followed her nose. When the chef greeted Lil at his door with a kitchen towel in his waistband, she knew he was for her. She canceled the date she had that night on the spot. Her first date with Harold Marcius Parks soon followed.

It was off to the races. Lil and Hal fell in love and were married in Honolulu, in the shadow of Diamond Head. They welcomed baby Rick the next year. Among moves to Atlanta, New York and back to Atlanta, the couple added Kathy, Peg, Diane, and Sue. A second honeymoon brought home a little souvenir named Laura Jean.

Even with all six (SIX!) kids on her hands, Lil still found time to do approximately 4000 things at the same time. She was painting, always and of course – usually at night while the children slept. She hand-drew each year’s holiday card. She served many terms as PTA President. She built rabbit cages, new walls in bedrooms, flower beds and retaining walls. She sewed clothes, curtains and Halloween costumes, although not the masks. Permanent marker would do fine for whiskers and noses, and yes, Mom, it did wash off. Eventually.

It’s no surprise, ours was always the house for neighborhood kids to go. After oxygen and before water, Lil believed sugar was a necessary daily consumable, and she always had the best after school snacks. “Go outside and play” was her mantra, so we roamed and explored with complete freedom. The only rule was to be home for dinner, where there was always an extra chair if someone wanted to stay. But mind your manners, her children were raised to dine with kings and queens, enforced by many a fork to a table-dwelling elbow.

Speaking of dinner, home cooking was not Lil’s first strength – it was said she could burn water. But she was known for Muckie’s pancakes, Goublosh, oatmeal cookies and a mean fried chicken. She loved to host, whether it was her amazing themed kids birthday parties or lavish dinners with Hal as gourmet chef and the children as dutiful waiters. Lil loved to dance and earned the nickname “Party Girl'' because she was always up for dancing, feasting, laughing and having a good time with friends. In fact, even later in life many of the kids’ invitations to gatherings included the note “And bring your mom.”.

Bouncing her share of checks, Lil preferred trading paintings and portraits for doctor and dental bills. Many still hang in offices across Atlanta and Miami today. Lil also collected awards, such as the Sandy Springs Garden Club’s recognition for the house’s front garden. She attempted to inspire a love of art in her kids too. Oh the hours we spent sitting on museum benches “appreciating” the works.

Next, it was off to Miami, where, guess what? Lil found just a few things to do. She played tennis. Sailed a Hobie Cat on the Atlantic. Joined the Miami Watercolor Society. Taught at the Metropolitan Museum. Painted two murals at the University of Miami. Started an art program for elementary school children. Grew orchids. Participated in MANY art shows, often winning, including the Coconut Grove Art Show along with both the prestigious Grumbacher Silver and Gold Medallions. And when pulled over for ALLEGEDLY speeding, she told the kind officer that she was hurrying to the church with donations.

For Lil’s art, it was always about “Painting the light”. Whether it was her own children enlisted to sit for hours as models, or a mural in Laura’s bedroom (the wall was later removed whole and installed in a local elementary school.). She loved to work in transparent watercolor, and especially loved working outside, painting scenes around the water. Oceans, ships, boats and especially the reflections were her favorites. She said she had to paint every day, or she felt like she was missing something. And when something captured her spirit, she had to paint it NOW. Much of her work is on the walls of her friends and families homes today. So, in a way, she’s still hanging out with us.

Retiring to the mountains of Waynesville, North Carolina, Lil and Hal settled into their hilltop villa, where she held the land speed records going both up and down the winding mountain road. Over 24 years there, Lil taught art at the community college, had her own studio, took commissions, entered and won many area art shows and awards. Family reunions were held, complete with custom t-shirts (designed by her, of course). She traded art lessons to learn new skills like basket weaving. She even signed up for a welding class, but gave her spot to her friend Grace, who made it into a career as an artist. Always the hosts, she and Hal entertained often –

around the dining table, on the back deck, on the tarmac and always when the local happy hour bell was rung.

After Hal’s death, Lil moved to Dallas, Georgia to be closer to family. Surprise, she didn’t slow down there either. Whether it was exercise classes and field trips through the senior center or sewing quilts for her growing brood of grandchildren. She won many awards for her art and taught classes through the Paulding Fine Arts Association, and joined a knitting group. She loved to garden and as always, loved a good party.

Lilian Parks loved her husband. She loved her kids. She loved her 10 grandchildren,12 great grandchildren, and her extended family too. She loved to paint the light. She loved her many, many, many, many, many friends. She loved giraffes and pelicans. (She said it was God’s way of telling us he had a sense of humor.) She loved sitting and visiting. And she loved traveling and adventure.

On June 24, 2024, Hal swung back around to pick her up for one more adventure.

Thank you Mom. For fostering a love of adventure, for sharing your passion for art—we promise we listened most of the time—and for showing us that when life puts down speed bumps you fly over them and enjoy the ride. Most of all, thanks for showing us the most important thing in life is friends and family (even your 12th cousin six times removed) and for sharing your joy with the world. Say hi to Dad, Rick, Aunt Judy and Cousin Bill from us. We love you!

Condolences can be sent to Kathryn Johnston at:

3676 Mount Olivet Rd.

Dallas, GA 30132

The service for the Celebration of Life will be held at St. Teresa's Episcopal Church (5725 Fords Road, Acworth, GA 30101) on July 20, 2024, 1:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Paulding Fine Arts Association (105 Village Walk, Suite 181, Dallas, GA 30132) or Saint Teresa's Episcopal Church Flower Guild (P.O.Box 801076, Acworth, GA 30101).