{The following summary of Wilford's life was prepared for his memorial services in Sun City, Arizona and Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1985. Since it was written and presented, some of the people mentioned have died, a few more great-grandchildren have been born, and a few people have changed their locations, spouses, and names. But for historical accuracy, all such details have been left as originally presented in 1985.}

    Dr. Wilford E. Park was born on March 27, 1901 in Fair Grounds, Ontario, Canada. He died on February 19, 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona and was buried in Sun City, Arizona.

    He is survived by his wife, Dr. Evelyn Hartman Park, of Prescott and Sun City, Arizona; his daughter Betty Ponder, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada; his son Douglas Park, of Cupertino, California; his son Robert Park, of Poynette, Wisconsin; his son James Park, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and his son Warren Park, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    He is also survived by a brother, Rev. Clifford G. Park, of London, Ontario, Canada.

    His 11 grandchildren are: Linda Neilson, Jennifer Scott, Kevin Park, Renee Mahan, Donavon Park, Robin Park-Doob, Mischa Park-Doob, Ian Park, Catherine Park, Jonathan Park, and Daniel Park.

    His 7 great-grandchildren are: Jason Rhinelander, Leta Scott, Michael Scott, Jennifer Park, Carrie Park, Danielle Mahan, & Charise Mahan.

    Dr. Park earned his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1927. He was elected to membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Society in 1925.

    After being in private practice in Brownsville, Ontario for 13 years, he moved his family of 6 to Whitby, Ontario in January 1942 and joined the medical staff at the Shell Filling Plant at Ajax, Ontario. While there he did pioneering work in the prevention of TNT poisoning. From 1945-1949 he was Director of Health Services for the Atomic Energy Project at Chalk River and Hospital Administrator for Deep River, Ontario, where he lived with his growing family.

    In late 1949, he moved with his family (now 7 in all) to Minneapolis and became Director of Industrial Health in the Minnesota Department of Health. From 1952 until his retirement in 1972, he served the Minneapolis Health Department first as Chief Occupational Health Service and later as Director of Adult Health. His duties included protecting workers' health in the workplace and the evaluation and inspection of nursing homes in Minneapolis. He also served as Lecturer in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. And he was one of the founders of the Minnesota Academy of Occupational Medicine and Surgery, an organization of physicians specializing in occupational medicine, serving as its first president. In 1973, he moved to Arizona with his wife, Evelyn.

    Dr. Park was a member of many professional organizations and served on numerous community organizations on the city, county, and state levels in Minnesota. He is listed in Who's Who in the Midwest and Who's Who in the West.

    Dr. Park was an active member of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, serving for many years as a member and chairman of the Commission on Education, member of the Family Life Committee, the Library Committee, and the Commission on Christian Social Concerns.