The Other David Parkinson

At last I've connected with "the other David Parkinson".  Dad and he were missionary companions in Scotland and Ireland for one week.  Over the years my path has crossed with people who have inquired about Dad as a missionary and I haven't known enough.

The question popped up again.  Sunday, Mark met a man in his ward who had been a companion to David Parkinson in Scotland about 1961, he was known as a scriptorian.  That isn't exactly how we've remembered Dad, perhaps.  We've remembered dumbin' around, a teacher who used the scriptures well in teaching the principles of the gospel, a person who focused on lifting people.  I recall when associating with CES people since his death responding to the question, "What was David's specialty?"  i.e. Church History, Ancient Scriptures, etc.  The question puzzled me, I hadn't thought of David having a specialty, he simply taught people the gospel and loved the Savior and perhaps knew him better than most of us. 

Briefly, the two David Parkinsons of the Scotland, Ireland Mission, Bernard Brockbank, President.

DAVID H PARKINSON Born  Nov 1941   
2872 750 E          
OGDEN, UT  84414   (801) 737-1530 

David P was his first companion.  David H said of the one week they served together:
David P used to say to him, "You're the only companion I've felt would like to punch me." 
That one week was intense.  As they walked from place to place Dad quizzed him on how he would handle various situations that might come up, quizzed him on scriptures.  Their mission had 250 scriptures they were to memorize, Dad had memorized 500.  David H's next companion didn't want to work so he became the senior from then on in his mission. That one week made a difference for the rest of his life.

[Hearing this prompted me to think of what David used to say of his mission.  Dick Wheeler, one of his early companions, made all the difference.  He taught him to leave himself behind and focus on the people.  Dick was a life-long friend who became a relative of sorts when he married his cousin, Linda Smoot.  I still hear from them at Christmas from Cody, WY.   Aren't we fortunate when people make such a difference in our lives that we become better and pass the good along.]

Married Barbara Storey, whose brother Ron served with me in Brazil.  They live next door to one another in Ogden.  Ron farms the Storey family farm of sheep, peaches, hay, etc.

Barbara has done about five canoe trips in the Boundary Waters that I did with Mark, Karen and family.  She goes with a woman who takes about five other women each year, Gail Wearit (sp).  Could that be the woman I met at the Minnetonka Ward who does similarly?

David H and his brother worked with their father in his art studio initially.  They then took it over before he moved on to teach seminary in the Ogden area.  (He knew Blaine when he took a second degree in education at Weber State.)  He then worked with computers in the office until five years before retiring.  He was then assigned to the Minneapolis area and worked with nine stakes in the seminaries and institutes.

They have a Minneapolis room in their basement. 

Well, I've had a fun start to January 4th, 2011.  Now to call our dear Lily Chris for her 10th birthday.  More and more fun.  Guess I'd better get out of my jammies for web cam.  Ha!