ROBERT WADE PARKHILL

ROBERT WADE "BOB" PARKHILL Robert Wade "Bob" Parkhill, passed from this life shortly after midnight the morning of August 13, 2025, in his home. Bob was born July 21, 1944, on a military base in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was the second child born to H.B. and Juliette Fitzgerald Parkhill. After leaving Las Vegas, Bob's father and the family were stationed in DeRidder, Louisiana, El Paso, Texas, Marion, Texas, Denison, Texas, Lakeland, Georgia, Weatherfield, England and Lake Charles, Louisiana before settling in Mannsville, Oklahoma. Bob graduated from Mannsville High School in 1961. He attended Murray State College and after graduating transferred to Southeastern University where he played basketball for Bloomer Sullivan. Bob was a member of the "Silky 5" team that is still commemorated in the halls of Southeastern today. After graduating from college, Bob took his first coaching job at Kingston, Oklahoma, where he met his first wife, Fran, and became the father of a precocious 3-year-old daughter, Lari. After leaving Kingston, Bob coached at Woodland, Hinton, Verden, Coalgate and Dickson where he would finish out his career in coaching, teaching and administration. While coaching in Verden, Bob was gifted with a son and best friend for life, Robert. After retirement, Bob headed for the hills of Colorado and drove a tour bus at a ski resort in Keystone. When he returned home to Ardmore, he made the wise decision of marrying his love, Jackie Pearson, in 1998. Bob had an array of hobbies throughout his life. He played basketball competitively well into his late 30's and had the honor of playing against the Harlem Globetrotters in Puerto Rico. He received many accolades during his college career and was asked to try out for the US Olympic team. Other hobbies included tennis, pickleball, running, skydiving and being teased by Robert and his friends. Bob loved spending time with his family, friends, and church family at the Emmanual Baptist Church. He always had a bowl of M&M's waiting for the little ones anytime they came to visit. Bob is survived by his wife, Jackie; his children, Robert Parkhill of Orlanda, Florida, his daughter, Lari Huey of Ardmore; grandchildren, Logan Willis and her husband, Derek of Ardmore, Barrett Huey of Oklahoma City, Chloe Parkhill of Stillwater, Ok, and Preston Parkhill of Statesboro, Georgia; great-grandchildren, Ollie and Oakley of Ardmore, Oklahoma; sister, Julie Beatty and her husband, Kenneth of Sasakwa, Oklahoma, Sister-in-law, Kathy Hasty of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sister-in-law, Dot Litke of Saginaw, Texas, sister-in-law, Janet Smith and her husband, Brent of Madill, Oklahoma, Howard Huey, many special nephews, nieces, friends and former students. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, HB and Juliette Parkhill, his brother, Richard Parkhill, his sister-in-law, Helen Wilson and brother-in-law, Donnie Pearson. Bob's service will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 10:00 am with burial flowing at the Hennepin Cemetery in Hennepin, Oklahoma. The family will receive friends Friday, August 15, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Craddock Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Kevin Parkhill, Mark Parkhill, Shane Beatty, Lance Beatty, Terry Litke, Kyle Bean, Thomas Smith and John Simigian. Honorary pallbearers are Craig McGowan, Tex Marsh, Lynn Windel, Alan Fite, Lou Hudson, Buck Chatham and TC Varner.