Joseph Hart Parker

1933 - 2024

Joseph Hart Parker

February 20, 1933 - September 6, 2024

Fort Worth, Texas - Joe Parker was born in San Antonio, Texas on February 20, 1933 to Salvation Army Officers Zack and Cornelia Parker. Joe was the youngest of ten children, all of whom have predeceased him. Joe married Melba Joyce Lambert in 1956. The couple was blessed with daughters Patti and Jan. Melba passed away in February 2010.

Joe graduated from Paris High School in 1950. He attended SMU for three semesters where he was on the swim team before joining the Navy in December 1951 during the Korean War. After serving for four years, Joe returned to Dallas and began a 44 year career in law enforcement, starting as a Texas State Trooper. Subsequently, Joe became a United States Marshal. For the final 30 years of his career, Joe served as a criminal investigator for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, handling investment fraud cases throughout the Southwest Region of the SEC.

In June 2013, Joe found happiness again when he married Donna Marie Horan.

Joe is survived by his wife Donna, daughters Patti Pennington and husband Allen, Jan Coleman and husband Darrell, bonus daughter Denise Hobbs and husband Andy, grandchildren Clara Pennington Orlean and husband Alex, Parker Allen Pennington and wife Angel, Michelle Coleman Corbett and husband Donovan, Alex Coleman and wife Bonnie, Cameron and Kaydee Hobbs, great-grandchildren Hayden Corbett, Wyatt and Quincy Coleman, baby Orlean due in October, and too many nieces, nephews, cousins, family members and friends to mention, but he loved them all. Lastly, Joe is survived by his rat terrier and constant companion, Lucy.

A special thank you to the nurses at the infusion department at Baylor, Scott and White and to Dr. Patrick Griffin and his nurses and staff, especially Lindsay Campbell for all their love, kindness and support.

A memorial service will be held to honor Joe's long life on Friday, September 13, 2024, at 12 noon, at Greenwood Chapel, located at 3400 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., also at Greenwood.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Salvation Army, 3023 NW 24th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76106.

Please also consider donating blood to the Carter Blood Bank.