Frank Russell Parker

1939 - 2018

July 1, 1939 - September 16, 2018 Frank Russell Parker passed away at the age of 79 in Vacaville, CA, from complications of Parkinson's and dementia. He was born in Darby, PA, to Dorothy Ada Platner and Edward Wallace Parker. He was raised in Lansdowne, PA, by his mother and stepfather Maurice Gordon. He spent many happy summers with his grandmother Mabel Green in upstate New York. He earned his BA in Acting from Carnegie Tech in 1962 and moved to Culver City, CA. He married Nola Donnell Rajcok in 1981 and had three daughters: Candace Donnell and fraternal twins Danielle Dallas and Lindsay Kyle. In 2005, he married Mary Jean Dunning Garofalo and resided in Vacaville, CA, until his death. His acting career spanned many years. He was in numerous films and television series throughout the '60s and '70s. He played roles on several soap operas during the '80s, most notably Paddy Kelly on General Hospital and Grandpa Shawn Brady on Days of Our Lives until he retired in 2008. Frank was a people person; he touched many lives and was loved by everyone. He could light up a room with his singing voice and was known to burst into song at any moment. He was a ham and loved the spotlight. Above all, he was the most supportive, generous, kind man and father. Frank loved his family. He was preceded in death by his daughter Candi, mother-in-law Dorothy Jean Wachsman Dunning and former father-in-law Robert Rajcok. He is survived by his wife Mary; daughters Danielle (Matthew) Buckles, Lindsay Parker (Travis Burbank) and their mother Nola; his grandson Jaxson Dale; sisters-in-law Jo Dunning and Patricia Dunning; brother-in-law Bob Dunning; former mother-in-law Sharon Rajcok; sisters-in-law Mary Rajcok and Andi Jurich; brothers-in-law Robert Rajcok, Dale Espina and Kevin Fox; also, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services will be held in Los Angeles, CA, on Saturday, October 13th. In Frank's honor, donations may be made to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. "It's never 'goodbye'...it's always 'I'll see ya later.'" -Frank Parker