April 17, 1927 - July 22, 2009

GOSHEN -- Mrs. Frances Charlotte (Parks) Zinn, 82, died at 8:45 a.m. on July 22, 2009, at the Greencroft Healthcare Center in Goshen.

Born April 17, 1927, in Elkhart to Charles and Catherine (Thillman) Parks, she later married William E. "Bill" Zinn Sr. on Sept. 13, 1947, in Bristol. He preceded her in death in 2008.

Mrs. Zinn is survived by her daughters, Kathleen A. "Kate" Madsen and Bill Beck of Elkhart, Kaileen R. "Kay" (Russ) Almond of Broomfield, Colo., and Deborah J. Zinn of Elkhart; as well as a son, William E. "Bill" (Joan) Zinn Jr. of Littleton, Colo. Also surviving are sisters, Mary Parks Nihart of White Pigeon, Mich., Patricia Parks Peasley of Three Rivers, Mich., and brother, Philip Parks of Elkhart.

Preceding her in death, along with her husband, are brothers, Richard and Dennis Parks, and a sister, Mollie Parks Sherer.

She was also the proud grandmother of four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

BRISTOL -- A memorial service for Frances C. (Parks) Zinn will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Bristol United Methodist Church.

Following the service, Mrs. Zinn's cremated remains will be buried at Little Pine Cemetery on C.R. 19 in Goshen. After the graveside service, a luncheon will be held at the Bristol United Methodist Church's Open Door Center. Friends and family may gather to celebrate Frances' memory.

Online condolences can find the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Zinn was a 1945 graduate of Elkhart High School. In 1960, the Zinn family moved to Hemet, Calif., where she was active in the locally produced "Ramona Bowl Pageant" as a costume director. After relocating back to the Michiana area in 1964, she became very involved in the RV industry and was the co-founder of Flair Interiors of Bristol until it was purchased by its present-day owners.

Mr. and Mrs. Zinn then retired to Potosi, Mo., where she was involved with the Potosi/Washington County Literacy Council and served on the Washington County Memorial Hospital Advisory Board.

Wanting to again live near family and friends, they returned to the Elkhart area, where Mrs. Zinn continued to enjoy sewing, gardening and hosting family gatherings at their home, such as their granddaughter's wedding. Most gatherings would include the re-telling of stories told by their grandchildren of their adventures with Grandma and Grandpa as well as a stream of jokes which was guaranteed to accompany any get-together.

Memorials in Mrs. Zinn's name may be given to the Greencroft Healthcare Facility in Goshen.