Parker Wilbur

Wilbur Allen "Wil" Parker

PORTSMOUTH, VA - Wilbur Allen Parker, "Wil" age 93 of Portsmouth, VA. and resided in Edenton, NC. passed away March 15, 2024. He was preceded in by Shirley Parker, wife of 70 years, Wilbur B. Parker, father and Mildred Parker, mother, his sister, Joyce Roberts and other extended family members. He is survived by his 3 children Gary Parker and his family, Ginny Parker, and Carey Parker and his family, his 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and his great companion of 12 years, his dog, Yogi.

He served his country proudly in the Korean War, was a graduate of the University of Richmond, in Richmond, Va., and a member and Sunday School teacher at the Edenton United Methodist Church in Edenton, NC.

You may not know him personally or be familiar with his name, but, if you enjoy those little pretzels with the peanut butter center, Honey & Nut cereal, peanut butter Pop Tarts, Skippy Super Chunk peanut butter, Crispy Peanut butter Granola bar, just to mention a few, then you have enjoyed his life's work.

His career began as a Chemist at the Skippy plant in Suffolk, VA. He then transferred to New Jersey, to work at the Skippy Peanut division of Best Foods. He soon rose to assistant director of Process and Product Development. From there, he relocated to Edenton, NC to lead the Pert lab at Seabrook Enterprise and Pert Laboratories. He was known as the "Peanut Man" at Seabrook. He retired at 66 and continued to consult as Senior Consultant until his 80's. He has 7 US patents, 9 publications and did 56 different technical seminars around the world.

Being a humble man, he always accredited the team and his colleagues. When he and the team were not creating food products for millions of people around the world, he enjoyed vegetable gardening, sitting on the screen porch, his family and friends at the Outer Banks, and snacking on his favorite peanuts, Spanish and roasted in the shell.

A joint memorial service will be held for both Wil and Shirley in the future. He will be greatly missed by all.

"Honor your Father and Mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12)

*No flowers, please. Unless you feel compelled. Thank you.