Obituary of Elmer L. Parker

Elmer L. Parker, Sr., 91, of 39527 Centerville Rd. Centerville, went to be with his Lord Wednesday morning, December 4, 2013. Elmer was born on June 22, 1922 at Athens Twp., Crawford County, PA, a son of the late Raymond and Anna May Southworth Parker. He was married to Virginia Williams on December 24, 1948 at Centerville. Elmer had been employed as a foreman with PennDOT for 21 ½ years. After his retirement from PennDOT, he started his own construction business. He had also worked at the former Cyclops Specialty Steel Corp. and the Union City Chair Factory. Elmer not only served as auditor, treasurer, and councilman in Centerville, but also as the borough secretary for 21 years. He served as treasurer of the Centerville Volunteer Fire Dept. for 18 years, as well as secretary for 31 years. He had also served as Centerville Borough Justice of the Peace for 12 years. Elmer had served as Boy Scout Leader of Troop 99; as a Republican committeeman for 14 years; and was a member and Sunday school superintendent of the Centerville Baptist Church. Elmer was a senior member of the Association of Highway Engineers of Franklin; a social member of the Bruce Shorts Post 5958 VFW; a member of the American Legion Post 994; a member of the Association of Retired State Employees Union AFSCME; a member of the Heritage Foundation of Washington, D.C.; and a member of the NRA. Elmer served his country with the Merchant Marines. He served as a fireman with the US Coast Guard on the Samuel F.B. Morse operating on the Great Lakes from 1947 to 1948. Elmer was an avid reader; enjoyed deer hunting; playing his guitar and singing; and playing pool. Parker Hill Road was named after the family. Elmer is survived by his wife of Centerville; five children, Elmer “Buggs” Parker, Jr. and wife Mary of Meadville, William Parker and wife Lynn of Lakeland, FLA, Maxine Weber and husband Garry of Corry, Diane Harrison and companion Gary Ratay of Titusville, and Stephen Parker and wife Melody of Canadohta Lake; 14 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; a sister, Florence Clark of Knoxdale, PA; numerous nieces and nephews; and close family friends Lisa and Larry Phillips of Spartansburg. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers, Lyle, Charles, Wayne, James “Homer”, Nial, and Willard Parker; and two sisters, Fern Stanford and Alice Harris. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St. Titusville on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM and attend the funeral service on Monday at 11:00 AM at the Centerville Baptist Church with Pastor Gary Kinnear officiating. Interment will be in Sunnyside Cemetery in Centerville. The family asks that memorials be made to the Centerville Baptist Church; to the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department; to Benson Memorial Library; or to the charity of one’s choice.