Mildred Mae (Bingham) Parks entered into heaven on February 21, 2022, the day after her 88th birthday.
Known affectionately as ‘Midge’ to her family and friends, ‘Mama’ to her two children and ‘Little Granny’ to her grandchildren, Mildred was beloved by all who knew her. She was a beautiful person, both inside and out, with a warm smile and wonderful laugh. She had a lifelong sense of fun, loved to play games, go shopping, and being involved in her church and family life. She had a strong sense of style and loved making things beautiful.
Mildred was born in Lebanon, Missouri on February 20, 1934 to Lannie and Emma Bingham. She moved to the Sapulpa, Oklahoma area as a child and was a 1952 graduate of Sapulpa High School. She married Freddie Parks in February 1955 and had two children, Kimberly (Parks) Van Winkle and Keith Parks.
Mildred was an active member of The First Church of God in Sapulpa for over 60 years where she sang in the choir and enjoyed decorating for church events as a longtime member of the Special Days Committee. She worked in Human Resources at Amerada Hess Corporation for over 25 years and retired in the 1990s. After retirement she spent time traveling with her husband, Fred, and enjoyed designing and building her dream home in Sapulpa. She was also a devoted and loving grandmother to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was a unique and lively woman, who loved a good sale at Dillard’s, a cold glass of Pepsi, a football game (especially if her Dallas Cowboys won), lots of big beautiful (often silk) flowers, glitzy jewelry and clothes but most of all—she loved time spent with her family and friends, who were so precious to her.
Mildred was welcomed into heaven by her parents, Lannie and Emma Bingham, as well as many friends and cherished family members who passed before her. We know she’s now part of the heavenly choir, singing in her ‘tuned up voice’ with her friend Peggy and has given her nephew Timmy a big hug and kiss in her bright pink lipstick.
She will be dearly missed by those of us still here on earth, including her husband, Freddie Parks; daughter Kim (Parks) Van Winkle and son-in-law Barry Van Winkle; son Keith Parks; granddaughter Heather (Van Winkle) Sleightholm and grandson-in-law Will Sleightholm; grandson Jordan Van Winkle and granddaughter-in-law Katie Van Winkle; great-grandchildren Audrey Sleightholm, Robert Sleightholm and Teddy Van Winkle as well as brothers Harold Bingham and Mayfield Bingham, along with a host of other family members and friends
