Elizabeth "Betty Jean (Streb) Parks

New Middletown – Elizabeth “Betty” Jean Parks, 79, of New Middletown, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday evening, July 19, 2025.

Betty was born on September 24, 1945, in Youngstown, Ohio, the daughter of Verne and Ann (Dobran) Streb.

A 1963 honors student graduate of Ursuline High School, she worked as a telephone operator first in Youngstown. She then married her husband Phil and worked as a telephone operator and later they owned and operated the Bar None Bakery in Arizona, selling donuts in the Mojave Desert. After living in California, they decided to move home to Ohio to start a family. She then studied for 2 years in the Registered Nursing

Program at YSU but stopped to care for her ailing child. Once health returned, she went back to school majoring in Real Estate and was a realtor for 2 companies in Ohio.

She returned to working as a telephone operator when the family moved seasonally to Florida. Along with her husband Phil, Betty lived in various parts of the country from Youngstown, Boardman, New Middletown Ohio, to Buffalo New York, Kingman Arizona, Los Angeles California, Siesta Key, Sarasota Florida, & Honolulu Hawaii. An avid reader her entire life, she then became an author, and with her son, published seven illustrated books over 25 years.

Her warmth, curiosity, and adorable sense of humor made her a joy to be around. In addition to raising her children, she helped raise her grandson while her daughter and husband were stationed at Pearl Harbor Honolulu Hawaii while in the Navy.

A woman of many talents & interests, besides writing, Betty enjoyed art, movies, drawing and painting, studying religions, science, nature, economics, world history, political science and current events. Betty also had a deep appreciation for music, enjoyed playing the piano, and attended many concerts over the years, from the Beach Boys to the Eagles, operas to ballets - she loved them all!

An athlete at heart, she kept active throughout her life and enjoyed water skiing, tennis, swimming, biking, and walking. She was also a loyal sports fan who cheered passionately for the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Pittsburgh Steelers & the Boston Red Sox.

Betty is survived by her beloved children, Katie (Les) Tyler and David Parks, with whom she made her home; her cherished grandson, Kevin (Maria) Musser; her great-grandson, Remy, and her brothers Bob and David Streb. She is also lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 42 years Phillip Parks, and her brothers Ralph, Bill, and Don Streb.

Although Betty will be missed dearly, her family knows she’s on her next great adventure in the cosmos! An amazing person & mom, a true Earth Angel just got her wings and is spreading the ‘kindness connection’ throughout heaven and the universe - and made her way over the rainbow!

Per Betty’s wishes, there will be no calling hours or services at this time.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market Street, Boardman.

Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary and send condolences.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth "Betty Jean (Streb) Parks, please visit our floral store.