William Ladd Parker

William Ladd Parker
September 2, 1935 - May 22, 2002
Roanoke, Virginia - William Ladd "Bill" Parker, 86, of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2022.
Born on September 2, 1935, in Charlotte, N.C., he was the son of the late James Auddy and Mabel Webb Parker.
Bill grew up in Charlotte, then attended Mars Hill College, where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Reid Parker. She always noted that she was the last woman in their group of friends he asked out. His rejoinder was that once he got with her, he stopped dating anyone else. Bill completed his early education by graduating from Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C.
After their marriage in 1957, they lived in Charlotte and gave birth to one child, then moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, and had two more. Bill taught at Boonsboro High School until the family moved to Roanoke in 1963. He then taught English and History at William Fleming High School as well as coaching the debate team. The 1970 edition of The Colonel, the high school yearbook, was dedicated to him.
Bill continued his education while he was working and received a master's degree in History from Virginia Tech. His master's thesis was on Brigadier General James Dearing, and he later expanded it into a book that was published as part of the Virginia Civil War Battles and Leaders series. Bill occasionally taught night classes in History at Virginia Western Community College.
He developed health problems that ended his teaching career in the early seventies, but Bill eventually returned to work selling office supplies. A restless soul, he enjoyed traveling around to various parts of the Roanoke Valley on business.
Bill and Liz were active. In addition to the flower and vegetable gardens they maintained at home, they had a large garden on their land in Franklin County. They also enjoyed hiking and camping.
He was involved in amateur dramatics and had roles in several Showtimers productions, particularly ones that involved singing. When they moved to the Harmony at Pheasant Ridge Retirement Home, Bill participated actively in the in-house choir, contributing his sonorous baritone to the group.
Liz passed away on February 14, 2022. Their daughter, Audina Louise Parker, passed away in 1998 from complications of juvenile diabetes.
Bill is survived by his two sons, Kevin William Parker and his wife, Tina Rhea, and Eric Reid Parker and his wife, Nancy Galib; and several nieces and nephews.
He will be interred at Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke, Va., alongside Liz and Dina in a private ceremony. A combined memorial service for both Bill and Liz will take place this summer.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation, P.O. Box 34635, Bethesda, MD 20827. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.oakeys.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Oakey's North Chapel, Roanoke, Va., (540) 362-1237.