Arthur Thomas Parke, III

Tom was born in March, 1932. As a boy he delivered newspapers, caddied, and was a life-guard at the Lenape Park public pool. He sang in the boys’ choir of the Holy Trinity Church in West Chester and was a Boy Scout. Starting when he was eleven years old, Tom and his cousin, Gibby Cornwell, partnered in presenting amateur magic shows for a number of years, mainly at kids’ birthday parties and Boy Scout assemblies. Tom competed in swimming and, for much of his life, tennis. After hearing an old 78 RPM recording of Beethoven’s Fifth when he was eleven years old, Tom became a life-long lover of classical music. Later in his life he enjoyed jogging and in 1990 jogged over 1000 miles.

Tom graduated from the Haverford School in 1949 and from Princeton University in 1953. One of his three roommates in his senior year was his esteemed friend, Pete Conrad, who would later command the second lunar landing and become the third person to step on the surface of the moon. Tom spent two years in the U.S. Army Artillery and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. He attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School, graduating in 1958. Upon graduation he was awarded the prize for being the most improved student over the course of the three years of law school. After law school Tom did his required six months of “clerkship” in the law offices of his uncle, William E. Parke II.

In 1957 Tom married Stephanie Gail Lavender. He and Gail had four children: Andrew, Caryl, Lawrence, and Daniel. Tom’s marriage to Gail ended in divorce after more than 17 years.

After being admitted to the bar, coincidentally on his birthday in March, 1959, Tom started his private practice with his uncle, William E. Parke II, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His Uncle Bill immediately made Tom a partner and named the law firm, “Parke and Parke.” In 1962 Tom joined the District Attorney's office. (Assistant District Attorneys then were “part-time”). He was made the First Assistant District Attorney of Chester County for four years through 1970. Tom tried many major criminal cases including ten murder trials. He ran for the office of District Attorney in 1970 as an “Independent” Republican against the Republican machine and, in the second of two ballot positions, lost in the Primary by one-tenth of one per cent of the votes cast. Later he practiced law with his brother-in-law, Lawrence E. Wood, and, to-become a brother-in-law, Peter Barnes. In all, Tom practiced law for more than fifty years and professes to have enjoyed every minute of it.

Tom rarely said no when asked to contribute his talents to the bar. He did pro bono work for Legal Aid and participated in the reduced fee program. Tom had a genuine admiration for his profession, its jurists, practitioners, partners, and clients. He looked forward every day to going into his law office.

Tom was active in community and legal affairs. He was a member of the executive committee of the Chester County Bar Association for many years and was that body's representative to the Community Action Board from 1968-1970. He was the chief editor of the Chester County Law Reporter for a number of years and was elected President of the Chester County Bar Association in 1975 for a one-year term. Tom was a member of the Lions Club for more than 20 years, a former chairman of the Greater West Chester Area Young Republican Club and a member of its executive committee. In the late 1960’s Tom was a member of the West Chester Human Relations Council and a member of the NAACP. At one time he chaired the Board of the “Open Door” of West Chester. In 1998 Tom was honored as one of three recipients of the CCBA Public Service Award.

When he first began his practice, Tom got to know and respect all of the active practitioners in the County. Over the years, Tom patiently imposed civility on even the most cantankerous and bombastic adversaries. His unpretentious, problem-solving approach to the practice of law was widely admired. In Tom’s mind every active practitioner in Chester County was a valued friend.

Tom was most loquacious on the subject of his and his wife’s children and grandchildren (six of the former and fifteen of the latter). Tom quippped that he cannot get over the fact that his dear friend and law partner, Peter Barnes, waited almost ten years before introducing him to Pete's sister, Tom’s wife, Betsy. Betsy and Tom were introduced for the first time in June 1979, so every June they celebrate their meeting. Tom said that he celebrated that meeting every day.

In 1960 photography became Tom’s hobby and, until the arrival of the digital era, no matter where he lived he always had a photo darkroom. After digital cameras arrived, Tom used his computer to achieve even more than he could with his darkroom chemicals and enlarger. Tom also enjoyed computers. Starting in 1985 he programmed the computers at his law office. Over several years he wrote computer code which ran the office data entry and database system. In 2009 he printed all of the computer program code in use by his office that he had composed over the years. To his surprise the print-out was 472 pages in length, single-spaced, on 8.5 inch x 11 inch paper.

Tom and Betsy both retired on the same day in December of 2009. The following day they moved to York, South Carolina, where they took up residence in a palace-of-a-house with enough bedrooms and baths to accommodate lots of children, grandchildren, and other visitors. Eight of their twenty-one children and grandchildren were residents of York. The others were spread around the world. Betsy continued with her rewarding portrait endeavor and taught art one day a week. Tom soon discovered to his surprise that he did not miss his law practice and truly enjoyed his new existence. Unlike when employed, however, in retirement there are no days off.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Mary, and his grandson, Dylan Mulligan Parke. He is survived by his beloved wife, Betsy; his two sisters, Jerry Kinkead and Renny Wood; his brother-in-law, Peter Barnes; his sister-in-law, Sandi Huss; his four children, Andy and his wife Kathleen, Carrie, Larry and his wife Kathryn, and Dan and his wife Marcia; his two stepchildren, Jenny Mellott and her husband, Jack; and Ken Rodgers and his wife Karen; 14 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at Filbert Presbyterian Church, 2066 Filbert Highway, York, SC 29745 on Saturday, September 19, 2026, with visitation beginning at 4:30 p.m. and the service at 5:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s name to Filbert Presbyterian Church or The Chester County Bar Foundation, 15 West Gay Street, 2nd Floor, West Chester, PA 19380.

Tom will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew and loved him.

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