Donald Eugene Parker, age 95, passed away June 28, 2023. He was born on May 23, 1928 in Paducah, KY to the late John Samuel and Bulah Bera Parker. Don was a 1947 graduate of Lone Oak High School. He was President of the Student Council, Editor of the Oak “K” newspaper and member of the Purple Flash basketball team. Don was a member of Lone Oak First Baptist Church where he was a Deacon Emeritus and a Sunday School teacher for many years. He was a past member of the Chapel Choir and the “notes of Joy”. For approximately 10 years, he served as Director of Music and taught Sunday School at Trinity Baptist Church in Paducah. He also liked to sing Barbershop Harmony (SPEBSQSA) and was a member of the Paducah Chapter Chorus and the Western Kentucky Chordmasters. He sang in two Barbershop quartets “The Esquires” and “Kentucky’s Way”. Don retired from Martin Marietta (USEC) after 32 years of service. Upon retirement in 1988, he was Building Supervisor of Chemical Cleaning and Decontamination.
He is survived by his son Scotty Parker (Lisa Harris) of Paducah and two daughters, Pat Parker of Louisville, KY and Janie Benjamin (Dan) of Louisville, KY; three grandchildren, Betsy Hart (Brad) of Nashville, TN, Bryan Benjamin (Alysia) of Louisville and Kalen Parker (Chelsea) of Paducah; two great-granddaughters, Eleanor Grace Hart and Lucy Lorraine Benjamin; two nieces, Judy Rizer of Franklin, TN and Susan Cooper (Freddie) of Paducah; two brother-in-laws, Gerald Jarvis (Sherry) of Symsonia, KY and Larry Jarvis (Roxie) of Paducah, KY.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Samuel and Bulah Bera Parker; wife, Jeanette Jarvis Parker, after 56 years of marriage and later in life to Abbie Russell Parker after 10 years of marriage; five sisters, one brother and several nieces and nephews.
Family would like to say Thank You to Mercy Health Hospice for their excellent help and care.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 3, 2023 Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Dr. Jeff Wallace officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until service time of 1:00 p.m. Monday. Interment will follow at Brook Hill Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Lone Oak First Baptist Local Mission Fund at Lone Oak First Baptist Church, 3601 Lone Oak Road, Paducah, KY 42001.
You can send a message to the family and light a candle at www.milnerandorr.com <http://www.milnerandorr.com>.