Ron Parker

Parker, Ron
Everyone fortunate enough to know Ron Parker was blessed by his warmth and kindness. With humility and abundant generosity, he lifted his family, friends and everyone he touched. Ron passed away after a brief illness on July 5, 2015 at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 72. Ron and his wife Kathy moved to Gilbert, Arizona in 2013 to enjoy their retirement years. He was an avid and diverse reader. Barnes and Noble has lost a loyal customer. He was a deeply spiritual man and full of mischief and humor. He was constantly trying to improve his golf game but never got the back swing and waggle quite right. It didn't bother him too much. He loved his pickup which he bought so he could "haul stuff," and his favorite thing to haul was his grandchildren. Ron was a gifted watercolor artist, drawing inspiration from all of God's creations. The day he was hospitalized, instead of telling his sister he was ill, he sent her a picture of his left foot and declared it to be the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He was one of a kind! Ron was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on December 18, 1942. After graduation from Palmer High School in 1960, he received a B.A. in English and Sociology from Drake University, and a Master of Theology from Yale Divinity School where he worked as a psychiatric aide at Yale Psychiatric Institute. He was employed by the Urban League in Harlem, taught English in Samyek, Thailand and earned a Doctor of Ministry from Christian Theological Seminary. He was ordained by his mentor and dear friend, Dr. Warren Hile, in First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Colorado Springs. Ron and Kathleen Workman were married December 22, 1968 in Laurens in the middle or a raging Iowa blizzard. His proudest accomplishments were their children, David and Kristin. Ron's first church was in Elmira, New York, where he was pastor of Central Christian Church. Five years later, his ministry took them to First Christian Church in Mooresville, Indiana. He became Associate Regional Minister of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana in 1979, and in 1984 he was called as Senior Minister at First Christian Church in Bloomington Indiana. In 2000, Ron returned to his beloved Colorado as Executive Regional Minister for The Central Rocky Mountain Region. He retired in 2007. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Lucille Parker. He is survived by his wife, Kathy; son David Parker (Deirdre), their children, Justin, Kaytlynn and Jacob; daughter Kristin Parker Simon (Christopher), their children Michael and Kayla; and sisters, Phyllis Parker Light (Michael Barbera) and Elaine Parker Barlow. A memorial service is planned for 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 10, 2015 at the Sun Lakes United Church of Christ, 9240 Sun Lakes Blvd., Sun Lakes, Arizona, 85248. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tennyson Center For Children at Colorado Christian Home, 2950 Tennyson Street, Denver, CO 80212-3029.