Charles David Parker died February 5, 2020 at the age of 90 in Durant, Okla. He was born Aug. 16, 1929 near Bokchito, Okla., to Robert Lee and Martha Elizabeth Parker.
In September 1949, he met Janice Walton at F. W. Woolworth store in Durant, where she was working. They became great friends immediately and this led to a real love affair. David had returned from active duty with the US Air Force and had re-enrolled in college at Southeastern. Janice and her family had moved from Liberty to Durant and she had enrolled as a freshman at Southeastern. Janice and David were married on her birthday, October 6, 1950.
David grew up in the Bokchito, Okla. area and completed high school with the class of 1946 at Bokchito. He earned both the Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Education degrees from Southeastern State University. His civilian employment included teaching, administration and administrative supervisor, in both public schools and college. During his 23 years at Southeastern he held many job assignments. At retirement he was Vice-President for Business Affairs at Southeastern. He retired on June 30, 1988.
David began his military career by enlisting in the US Air Force on July 1, 1948. After his service in the US Air Force he enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in 1951 and transferred to the US Army Reserve in 1956. He served a total of 39 years, 6 months and 20 days in the military and held the rank of Colonel when he retired. During his service in the military, he earned all enlisted ranks, all Warrant Officers ranks, and Officer ranks through Colonel. He was proud of this accomplishment.
As an enlisted man in the US Air Force he was school trained as a Clerk Typist and Key Punch Operator. His Warrant Officer assignments were Unit Administrator. The officer schools that he attended included The Infantry Officer Career Course, Ft. Benning, GA., Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS., and attended a National Security Seminar at the Carlisle Barracks at the War College, Carlisle, PA. His duty assignments as an officer included Company Commander, Battalion Adjutant. Operations and Training Officer, Battalion Executive Officer, Battalion Commander, Adjutant General of the 95th division (TNG), G3/DPT Reserve Component Div, 101st Airbourne Division. ESGR-Employer Support Guard and Reserve (encourage and assist employers in supporting member of the Guard and Reserve). He also served as Liaison Officer for West Point Military Academy. He received numerous awards for service rendered in these positions.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years and nine months, his parents, four brothers, five sisters and all their spouses. He was the last survivor of the Robert Lee and Martha Elizabeth Parker family.
Survivors include son, David J. Parker and wife Paula of Sherman, Texas; daughter, Cheryl Lynn May and husband Gerry of Bossier City, La.; three grandsons: Jeffery Parker and wife April of The Colony, Texas, Brian Parker of Dallas, Texas, and Travis May and wife Sarah of Haughton, La.; five great-grandchildren, Presley Parker, Dax Parker, and Dallas Jane Parker of The Colony, Texas, Georgia May and Rhys Parker May of Haughton, La., and many nieces, nephews and other relatives, who will cherish his memory.
Funeral services will be held at the Durant Church of Christ at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 with Bro. Logan Cates officiating.
Family visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020 at the Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla. Interment will be at the Highland Cemetery, Durant. immediately following the funeral service with Billy McCoy, Travis May, David Herron, Jeff Parker, Ron Taylor, Paul Mauck, and Brian Parker serving as pallbearers, along with Glen Burke, Paul Wiley, Joe Taylor and Don Herron as the honorary pallbearers.
The family would like to thank Beth Thompson and the staff at Brookdale in Durant, Robin Stevens and staff at Heaven Sent Caregivers, especially Jenny, and the staff of Guardian Hospice and Dr. Truly.