Rodney Parker

Master Sergeant (Retired)

Rodney Eugene Parker

Wake Forest

Master Sergeant (Retired) Rodney Eugene Parker, 65, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning at Transitions LifeCare after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Rodney was born September 8, 1949 in Kinston to the late Floyd Stanley Parker and Mary Grace Blizzard Parker. He retired with over 32 ½ years of meritorious service from the North Carolina National Guard, serving as the facility manager at Camp Butner Training Site in Stem. Rodney was passionate about his country and its flag, his friends and his Harley Davidson motorcycles. He dedicated many hours toward numerous veterans causes and helping those who were less fortunate. On February 11, 1989, he married the love of his life, Carolyn Siceloff Parker, and they have shared many wonderful years together. He was a faithful husband and friend to many.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, March 3, at L. Harold Poole Funeral Service, 944 Old Knight Rd, Knightdale, 27545. A service to celebrate his life will be conducted by Rev. Kris Weiss and Rev. Floyd Baker at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, March 4 at Radiant Church, 7000 Destiny Drive, Raleigh to accommodate his many friends throughout the state. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, 701 Oakwood Ave, Raleigh in the veterans section.

Surviving to cherish his memory: his wife Carolyn; daughter, Beth Parker Simmons (Ken) and their son, Noah, of Huntersville; sister, Linda Parker of Garner and her son, Rusty Mitchiner, and her daughter, Jodi Mitchiner; Carolyn's extended family: her father and mother, Carroll and Louise Siceloff of Coolidge, GA and a host of other close family members.

Carolyn would like to extend the family's sincere gratitude to the medical teams at Duke University Hospital, the staff of Transitions LifeCare and their many friends for their love, compassion and their phenomenal care during Rodney's illness.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be made in Rodney's memory to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh 27607, Fort Bragg Fisher House, 12 Bassett Street, Bldg. I-5905, Fort Bragg 28307 or the charity of one's choice.

Condolences to the family may be sent to poolefuneral.com under Obituaries.

"When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live"…..Stuart Scott