Obituary of Orville Chester Park

Orville C. "Smiley" Park Jr. GASTON--Funeral services for Orville C. "Smiley" Park Jr., 59, of Gaston, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 21, 2011 in the Chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia. Officiating will be Rev. David Park. Burial will follow in Southland Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Jason Herron, Gene Hutto, Lawrence Simmons, Bama, Joe Lush, and Butch Maddox. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, October 20, 2011 at Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia. Mr. Park passed away on October 16, 2011. Born in Mitchel Field, NY, he was the son of the late Orville C. Park Sr. He leaves behind his beloved wife, confidant and best friend of 28 years, Shirley Sharpe Park. He served fourteen years in the Air Force and was stationed in Washington, D.C. for one year, where he served on President Nixon's Honor Guard during inauguration. He served eight years in Germany, one year in Alaska, three years at Shaw Air Force Base, and one year in Abilene, Texas. Mr. Park spent over 30 years at D&D Custom Cycle on Meeting St., in West Columbia. He rode with Capitol Express. Of his many talents, one of his talents was art, along with being a talented musician. "Smiley" taught himself to play drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and loved playing the bass guitar. He was a member of the Good to Go Band. Over the years, he played with many talented musicians, and his love for music will forever be instilled in everyone's hearts. "Smiley" was loved by everyone he knew, never met a stranger, and we all know God has a wonderful angel with him, and he is able to ride in Heaven and play beautiful music. His knowledge of being a mechanic and a friend to all, as well as his love, compassion, and knowledge, will be greatly missed. "Smiley" was a wonderful husband, father, and friend to all. The family would like to dedicate the song "One More Day" by Diamond Rio. Surviving Mr. Park are his children, Jason Michael Park of Gaston, Angela Church and Jim Dixon of Gaston, Kevin Troy Church of Greenville, Harold Jewel "Beaver" and Barbara Church of Pelion, Michelle Marie and Jeffery Manning of Greenville and Mandy Park of Connecticut; ten grandchildren, "PawPaw's Pit Crew", Linda Hawn and Justin Shockley, Vincent Michael Dixon, Kirsty Ann Dixon, Kaitlyn Church, Cheyanna Manning, Jason Michael Park II, Jacob Barton, and Anthony Martin; and his four legged granddaughter Phoebe Dixon; 2 great-grandchildren, Rodney Dalton Hawn and Jessie Emory Shockley; brothers and sisters, Marcia and Holland Folsom, Dave and Deb Park, Robert and Brenda Park, Lisa and Shannon Smith, and Janet and Dan Staggs, along with his many loved nieces and nephews and the many "children" that he accumulated over the years and loved as his own. At the request of the family, they would be honored, if you ride, to please join "Smiley" in his last ride to his final resting place.