Edwin “Ed” Floyd Parker, 86, passed away peacefully in his home on Dec. 27, 2009. He had suffered several TIA strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.
Ed requested that he be cremated and his ashes be scattered over San Francisco Bay and the mountains in California.
A memorial will be held at 3 p.m. on March 14, 2010, at the Andover American Legion Post 406 building near Santa Fe Lake Rd. and Highway 54.
Ed was born on July 19, 1923, in Muskogee, Okla. He was preceded in death by his parents, C.F. and Edwina Parker. His mother was a well known piano teacher in Augusta.
Ed played the piano in several music festivals and played basketball for the Orioles. In 1940 he served as an assistant Scout Master at Quivira Scout Ranch. He graduated from Augusta High School in 1941. He attended Oklahoma A & M and was a member of Beta-Theta Pi Fraternity.
He married Marie Martin of Augusta. They had no children and later divorced.
Ed served in the United States Air Force from Feb. 1943 to Feb. 1946 and again in March 1951 to 1952. Serving in WWII, he flew missions in Europe, Germany and the Philippines. He was as a prisoner of war while stationed in the Philippines, for which he earned a Purple Heart. He trained pilots while in the Philippines. He was called back for the Bay of Pigs, the KKC (Kruschev, Kennedy, Cuba) Missile Crisis. His dream was to fly a P-38 and the P-51, which he was able to do. In WWII, he flew the B-24 Liberator.
His many experiences included the University Assistant Dean of Engineering, Engineering Manager for Boeing, Engineering Computer Manager at Lockheed Missile and Space, consulting various aircraft, oil, power generating and computer companies. He was a ditch digger, timber logger, routstabout and gandy dancer.
He had a PhD., DSc., degrees in engineering, physiological psychology, science and management.
Ed was known to most people in Augusta. He was seen out walking around town, in the library doing research, at the City offices, and visiting with folks, young and old.
Arrangements by Headley Funeral Chapel, Augusta.
Augusta, Kan. —
