Hubert Vern Park, 94, of 262 Springmoor Drive, died on Wednesday, December 28, following several weeks of declining health. He was born on December 29, 1911, in Rowan County, south of Salisbury, North Carolina, the eldest child of the late John and Pearl Park.

Hubert was preceded in death by his wife of more than 63 years, Mary Alice Herman Park, and a sister, Freda P. Aderholdt. He is survived by his sons, Richard B. Park and wife Jane of Lynchburg, Virginia, and Robert V. Park and wife Sheryl of Raleigh; daughters, Elizabeth Park Whitaker and husband James of Lutz, Florida, and Alice Park Fairbrother and husband Elwood of Raleigh; eleven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers, Voight P. Park and wife Bonnie of Newton, NC, and James R. Park and wife Toby of Belmont, NC; and sister Riley P. Burton and husband Roper of Salisbury, NC.

Dr. Park graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1931, with a degree in Mathematics, and earned both his Masters Degree and Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by 1939. He joined the North Carolina State University mathematics faculty in 1934, and retired to emeritus and part-time status in 1978. He continued to teach until 1991, devoting a total of 57 years to teaching and counseling thousands of NCSU students. The last ten years of his teaching career were without compensation; he just loved to teach. Receiving Outstanding Teacher Awards in 1966 and 1969, and being in the top five percent of the faculty cited as those who contributed most to my education at NCSU in 1969, 1970, 1974, and 1976, Dr. Park affirmed his commitment to his students. His office door was always open. In addition to teaching, Hubert served the Mathematics Department in many administrative capacities, to include Assistant Department Head (1962-1972), Associate Department Head (1972-1978), and Acting Head in 1967 for one year. He directed the special training for mathematics teachers program, and was president of the North Carolina State University Scientific Society of Sigma Xi. He was also a member of Phi Kappa Phi, and was listed in Whos Who in American Education. Additionally, he served on the Faculty Senate and numerous other committees, and was the first chairman of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers at NCSU. Named an Alumni Distinguished Professor in 1975, Hubert returned his cash awards to the Alumni Association to provide seed money for the establishment of the Hubert V. and Mary Alice Park Scholarship in the department of mathematics, the endowment to which he continued to contribute generously. In 1982, he was presented the Award of Merit by the NCSU Alumni Association; and in 1986, he received the Watauga Medal, NCSUs highest non-academic honor given for distinguished service to the university. The citation recognized him as a Professor Extraordinaire, a teacher whose dedication to students, mathematics education and the University for more than 50 years has given new meaning to the definition of outstanding teacher.

Dr. Park supported Lenoir-Rhyne College as well, both financially and by his service on a variety of committees. He was a former member of the Lenoir Rhyne College Board of Trustees, and a member of the colleges Institutional Advancement Council Church Task Force. In 1987, the college honored Hubert by presenting him with its annual Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Hubert joined Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1934. Over the years, he contributed his time and services in a number of ways. At various periods, he taught Sunday School classes for college students and adults; chaired the Campus Ministry Committee; served on the building committee, the pastoral search committee, and the church council; delivered the sermon on Senior Sunday; ushered; and participated in the Dayspring Senior Adult Program.

Throughout his life, Hubert served as a role model for his family, friends, and professional associates always generous with his time, his talents, and his resources. A very humble man by nature, his faith was rock solid, and the values he maintained throughout life were evident to all with whom he came in contact. According to a life-long associate and close friend, his integrity was completely unimpeachable. Although he left the farm as a young man to construction of the home in which he and his wife raised their family, but also to occasionally build and refinish furniture. Remaining active after moving to the Springmoor Retirement Community in 2002, Hubert continued to drive to church every Sunday, and enjoyed playing bridge and attending the monthly Mens Luncheon and the meetings of the Science Club.

Huberts family wishes to convey their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the administrators, staff, and employees of the Springmoor Retirement Community and the Stewart Health Center for the professional and loving care which they provided to Hubert during the past four years. The family will receive friends on Friday, December 30, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Springmoor Retirement Community, 1500 Sawmill Road, Raleigh. The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 31, at Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2723 Clark Avenue, Raleigh. Burial will be at Raleigh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Campus Ministry, Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2723 Clark Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607; to the Mary Alice and Hubert V. Park Scholarship Fund at Lenoir-Rhyne College, P.O. Box 7163, Hickory, NC 28603; or to the Mary Alice and Hubert V. Park Scholarship Fund at North Carolina State University Alumni Association, Campus Box 7503, Raleigh, NC 27695.

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