Edward F. Parker

HINGHAM - Edward F. Parker, 86, died on June 17, 2008. He was 86.

Born on December 16, 1921, in Cambridge, Parker was a graduate of Arlington High School. He held a Bachelor of Arts in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University and a Master of Science in Management Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Mr. Parker was a proud WWII veteran, retiring as a Lt. Colonel from the Army Reserves after 29 years of service. He was also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

Mr. Parker joined the engineering staff at General Electric Co. in 1948. During his distinguished career with GE, he served in several management capacities in Massachusetts and New York. He retired to Cape Cod with his wife, Ruth, in 1984.

In his 25 years on the Cape, he was a familiar face in Dennis, particularly on Cold Storage Beach. He was a jazz aficionado, sharing his passion with family and friends, many of whom were well-known musicians. He was a member of the Jazz Society of Sarasota, Fla., and the Cape Cod Jazz Society, which he served as vice-president. Mr. Parker was also a member of the Mount Horeb Lodge A.F. & A.M. in South Dennis.

In addition to his passion for jazz, Mr. Parker was a lifelong athlete. He began running competitively at Arlington High School and went on to be a part of several nationally ranked teams at Northeastern where he was captain of the cross-country squad for two years. He continued running competitively into his 60s. Even after his recent move to Linden Pond in Hingham, was quick to join the walking club.

In his own estimation, Mr. Parker's greatest accomplishment was his family. He is survived by Ruth, his beloved wife of 65 years; son, Edward, and daughter-in-law, Karen, of Andover; daughter, Cathy MacFarlane, and son-in-law, Scott, of Needham; grandson, E. Christian Parker, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; granddaughter, Holly Parker, of North Andover; granddaughter, Susannah Parker, and great-granddaughter, Carolyn Parker, of Andover; granddaughter, Heather MacFarlane, of West Roxbury; and grandson, Scott MacFarlane, and his fiancé, Monica Lordello, of Milton.

Funeral services will be held at the Dennis Union Church, corner of Route 6A and Old Bass River Road, East Dennis, on Monday, June 23, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Interment at Massachusetts National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472, or to the Dennis Union Church, P.O. Box 2020, Dennis, MA 02638. Arrangements by the Eaton Funeral Home Needham.