Virginia E. (Curran) Park pass…

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Virginia E. (Curran) Park passed away surrounded by her loving family at her home in Charlotte, N.C., on March 16, 2017. The heart and soul of our family, she guided us through all the events in our lives. We will always mourn her loss. Virginia was born on July 19, 1920, in Worcester, Mass. She is survived by her sisters, Eleanor Hussey of Grafton, Mass., and Elizabeth Dion of Whitinsville, Mass. Their parents, Thomas Joseph Curran, Jr. and Nora Leary Curran; brothers, Robert, Charles, Richard; and sister, Mary Campbell are deceased. Virginia graduated from Commerce High School in 1938 and worked for several years as a telephone operator at New England Telephone and Telegraph Co. After a 10 year courtship interrupted by WWII, she married Richard “Dick" Park on August 21, 1948, and embarked on a lifelong journey of love, service and travel. As a dedicated military spouse, she lived in many places in the U.S. and overseas, including her favorites, Colorado, Germany, Spain and precommunist Cuba. Ever the strong matriarch when her husband deployed multiple times as an Air Force pilot, she was an incredibly loving mother to their children, Maureen Park of Charlotte, N.C.; Richard “Rick” Park, Jr. of Fairfax, Va.; and the late William “Bill” Park II. Following a decorated 27 year career in the Air Force, they lived in Gloucester, Mass., for 30 years and then Brooksby Village in Peabody, Mass., for eight years. Their mutual love, respect and support was a model of unity and an inspiration for all who crossed their path as well as their family and friends. After 64 years of a cherished marriage and the death of their son, Bill in 2010, Dick passed away in 2012 and Virginia moved to Charlotte, N.C., where she chose to focus on the positive and relish life’s opportunities. Even at 96, you could still catch her attending events like Riverdance and neighborhood block parties, going to the movies (recliner seats were her favorite!), enjoying new restaurants and keeping up with the times on her iPad. Virginia, a devout Catholic, joined the local churches wherever she lived, including Our Lady of Good Voyage in Gloucester, Mass., and St. Matthews in Charlotte, N.C. Along with her daughter and son, Maureen and Rick, Virginia is survived by her daughters-in-law, Patricia Park of Fairfax, Va., and Patricia Cole of Alexandria, Va.; her five grandchildren, Karyn Staley of Charlotte, N.C., Richard Park III of Annandale, Va., Christopher Park of Fairfax, Va., Jessica Park of Beaverton, Ore., William “Ed” Park, Jr. of Fairfax, Va.; great-grandson, Robert Park of Reston, Va.; and many nieces and nephews in New England. A celebration of her life will be held at her home in Charlotte, N.C., and her burial service will be at Arlington National Cemetery, where she will be reunited with Dick, the love of her life. Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203. Information online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com.