Albert Parks Whitehead, Jr.

Albert Parks Whitehead Jr, went to be with our savior Jesus Christ September 6, 2024. Most knew him as “Parks.” He was born March 19, 1937, in Lawton Oklahoma. His parents were Beulah Ward and Albert Parks Whitehead Sr.  He and his family lived at their farm home on the outskirts of Cache, Ok. Parks Jr. and about nine other family members shared in the work of hand milking cows twice daily, raising turkeys, growing cotton, learning scripture and singing. Later they would form a gospel group for a short time known as “The Singing Whiteheads”. At the age of five, Parks Jr. and his family moved to a 100-acre farm on Pine Lodge Road in Roswell, N.M. There, they continued farming cotton and alfalfa and raising livestock.

Parks Jr. was the youngest of sixteen siblings. He had 12 brothers and 3 sisters. Many of his siblings went into Christian ministry. A hymn often sung by the family at church and family reunions was “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” Parks Jr. is the last of his siblings to go home and be with the Lord. His childhood circle is now complete.

Parks met his wife, Irene Gilliland, at Roswell High School in Roswell, N.M. Irene was a smart farm girl who made good by getting a scholarship to Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing in Amarillo Tx. and graduated with a R.N. degree. Parks was able to capture this love of his life, and on a long weekend when she was on break, he surprised her with a proposal. They were married in Tucumcari, N.M. July 5th, 1956, but settled on the farm in Roswell N.M. where Parks Jr. took over running the farm. After having two children in Roswell, Parks Jr. and his family moved to Alamogordo, N.M.

Parks Jr. became a licensed masonry contractor July 24, 1964, and later he partnered with his oldest son who earned his GB-98. The two built many homes together. Parks Whitehead Construction Company was well known in Alamogordo from the 70’s through the 1990’s. Much of the beautiful masonry work and beautiful homes in the Tularosa Basin stand as a testament to his company and employees, many of whom he helped to become licensed contractors. He laid the first masonry spiral columns in Alamogordo at 1909 Cuba Ave. and was the masonry contractor for the gazebo at the blind school. He built his last subdivision - Meadowland Estates - from 1998 to 2006. It was then he retired to farming South of Alamogordo. There he farmed alfalfa, raised longhorns, goats and horses.

Parks Jr. and Irene started attending Christ Community Church on Thunder Road Dr. in 1977. Parks Jr. became a good friend of Pastor Jack Brock and eventually served as a board member of Christ Community Church. He helped build many of the beautiful buildings of the complex on Thunder Rd. and Scenic Dr. These include the sanctuary on Thunder Rd. and water fountains in front, Agape Hall, the castle playground, and the tower and bridge to the Family Life Center. Parks Jr. taught his three sons the construction trade and they also helped in the construction of some of the buildings at Christ Community Church on Thunder Rd and Scenic.

Parks Jr. loved animals, especially horses, and he passed this love on to his children and grandchildren. As a result, his children learned to raise livestock, ride and rope and pitch horseshoes. He also taught his children to play “42” a domino game passed down through his family for generations. This game was played at every family gathering with serious competition. Parks Jr. taught his children that team codes were to be protected and taunting the competition was required. 

Parks Jr. was quite a character with his cowboy hat, big smile and sarcastic humor. His family loved to hear him play the harmonica and clank his dentures or partially slip them out of his mouth to the astonishment of crying children, who would quickly quit crying, begin to laugh and reach for his mouth. He is loved and will be greatly missed. His family is confident they will see him again with the Lord and by God’s grace, the next circle will also go unbroken. 

Parks Jr. is survived by Irene Whitehead; four children: Albert Parks Whitehead 3 (his wife Kelly), Parla Rathgeber (her husband Jack), Carey Whitehead, AAS EE who lives in Sherman, Tx. and Monte Whitehead, DVM.; 10 grandchildren: Sarrah Babb, Albert Parks Whithead 4 (his spouse, Nyssa), Allan Whitehead, Christian Whitehead, Koltan Whitehead (his spouse, Magoli) Dusti Orchard (her husband, Damian), Jack Rathgeber Jr. (his spouse, Amanda), Laloni Geary (her husband, Dan), Michelle Whitehead, Jackie Whitehead, Clayton Whitehead, Amanda Lewis, and Taylee Whitehead; 17 great grandchildren: Alaxis Nolan, Aedan Whitehead, Rose Whitehead, Lucy Whitehead, Athena Whitehead, Kairi Whitehead, Nyla Whitehead, Veronica Harvey, Michael Harvey, Jordan Rathgeber, Kody Rathgeber, Reid Geary, Claire Geary, Alucard James, Curie James and Prairie Lewis.

The Memorial Service for Parks Jr. will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Christ Community Church, 2960 Scenic Dr., Alamogordo, N.M.  The reception will follow in the church fellowship hall following the service.

The Whitehead family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home.

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