Obituary of Robert W. Parker

Robert W. Parker: October 7, 1929 - April 27, 2016

Robert was born to Frederick W. and Kandace Virginia (Swartz) Parker at the Franklin, Pennsylvania hospital but their home was actually in Rocky Grove. It was while attending elementary school in Rocky Grove that he discovered his gift for making friends wherever he went.

He met the love of his life, Marjorie Ruth Borland, in seventh grade and pursued her throughout high school at Rocky Grove High School.

His gift for making friends earned him the honors of Junior Class Vice President and Senior Class President.

Bob served his country from October 1949 to October 1953 in the United States Navy and was based at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, California. He came home in December of 1951 to marry Marjorie on December 29, 1951. They celebrated 64 years together in 2015.

The newlyweds returned to California to finish his tour of duty and while there, daughter Barbara Jean made it a family of three. They spent another year in California before returning to Rocky Grove to resume civilian life. After spending a year with his parents, they bought a house down the street and settled in. Twins Fred and Mary Ellen came along a few years later and in 1960, son Terry joined the family.

Bob was part of the Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department, usually as the driver. Every year at the Firemans’ Fair, he could be found in the men's cook tent manning the grill.

He was a member of the Rocky Grove Avenue Presbyterian Church and served as a Trustee for several years.

He was fortunate to be hired on at the Franklin Hospital becoming an X-ray technician. He trained several future x-ray techs and became long-time friends with several.

It was while at Franklin Hospital that he was approached by the area Eastman Kodak radiography markets representative: would he be interested in joining the Kodak family. He joined them in September 1964 and after four months of training, he was assigned to the Midwest region and based in Omaha. The family packed up and headed west to beef country. Bob handled Nebraska, Western Iowa and part of South Dakota, which meant a lot of time behind the wheel of the company car.

His skills with the x-ray film processors gained him a reputation within the company. In 1974 they were called into Rochester for him to work out of Kodak Office. Occasionally he was called upon to make trips to various parts of the country.

This allowed to him to make it back to the Omaha area where daughter Barb and son-in-law husband Larry still lived. They gave him the first two granddaughters, Jana and Erin. A few years later, son Fred brought Sharon into the family. Soon they gave two more granddaughters, Jessica and Susie.

Bob had many interests and talents. He played piano and later organ by ear. His passion was theatre pipe organ music. Bob and Marge were very active in the Omaha Pipe Organ Society. He spent many a Saturday night working with a friend on repairs of an organ in what was originally a vaudeville theatre. They continued their passion with the Rochester group and were honored on their 25th wedding anniversary while attending a concert.

Bob was a very talented woodworker and made several items for his family. The chest of drawers occupies a prominent position in their home and several picture frames adorn the walls.

He loved classic movies by the The Marx Brothers and Abbott & Costello. One of his favorite movies was The Great Race, and he would often quote lines.

He was also a student of the Pacific theater of conflict in World War II. He was constantly reading about the various battles.

Bob flew the American Flag in their yard and was very proud of being a Navy veteran.

He also reached the level of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He often shared stories of time spent at the area Boy Scout Camp.

He was preceded in passing by his parents and in-laws James and Grace Borland, and daughter Mary Ellen. He is survived by his wife Marjorie, his daughter Barbara (Larry) Hilton of Council Bluffs Iowa, his sons Fred (Sharon) Parker and Terry Parker of Rochester, his granddaughters Jana (Greg) Sturm of Council Bluffs, Erin (Courtney) Kiley of Diagonal, Iowa, Jessica (Josh) Vernon of Rochester and Susie (Jordan) Sells of Jersey City, New Jersey. Five great-grandchildren also survive: Elli and Hattie Sturm, Hunter and Hannah Kiley and Addison Vernon. He also leaves cousin Margaret (Jeannie) Keskin of Fairport Harbor Ohio and many friends and neighbors.

Friends may call Sunday, May 1st from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Inc., 735 East Avenue, Hilton and are invited to his Funeral Service at the Funeral Home on Monday, May 2nd at 2:00 p.m.

Donations can be directed to The Arc of Monroe County, 2060 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Road, Rochester, NY 14623 in Bob's memory.

His final resting place will be in the Franklin Pennsylvania Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, 735 East Avenue, Hilton, NY. http://www.burgerfuneralhome.com