Reverend Ronald Wilmar Parker

1938 - 2023

It is with a salute to a life well lived that we announce the passing of the Reverend Ronald Wilmar Parker, 84, of Rosemont, Pa., who died Friday, May 26, 2023 at Bryn Mawr Village in Bryn Mawr, Pa. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Parker, who died at the young age of 38, his mother, Nydia Parker Russell, and his stepfather, Stephen L. Russell. He is survived by his treasured wife of 60 years, Josephine Oakes Parker of Rosemont, his son Stephen Parker (husband of Becky Hwang), and his grandson Julian of Pittsburgh, and his daughter Annette Parker Morano and grandson Vincent and granddaughter Veronica of New Jersey. Ron was born in Northeast Philadelphia, Pa., on November 26, 1938. At nine years old, kismet stepped into his life when a third-grade classmate brought a guitar in for show and tell and played 'Music! Music! Music!' He was smitten and he pestered his parents until they bought him what would be the first of a lifetime of coveted guitars ' a $9.95 Roy Roger's Special from Sears. At twelve years old, being born in Philadelphia, Home of the Mummers, he started his amateur musical career playing guitar and banjo in a string band. At sixteen, he formed The Ron Parker Trio, which led to a weekly radio show and the beginning of his professional musical career. At eighteen, he was playing in local nightclubs and teaching guitar to earn enough money to study Music Education and Composition at Combs College of Music from 1959 to 1963. In 1963, while teaching at The Drexel Hill Conservatory of Music in the suburbs, a student whom he thought was going to be a boy named Joe, turned out to be, in his words, 'an attractive woman named Jo who has been, next to God, the best thing that ever happened to me.' They were married on April 20, 1963 and April 20, 2023 marked their 60th anniversary. The early years were rough financially but to their great joy in June 1964 their son Stephen was born. That year was also the beginning of his progressively successful professional career as a theatrical orchestra pit performer and growing reputation as a jazz guitarist. Joy visited again in 1968 when their daughter Annette was born. Over the next 20 years, he played for and recorded with Chico Hamilton, Stan Kenton, Johnny Mercer, Eddie Fisher, and many, many others. He was House Musician at The Palace in New York City and is on the original cast album of the musical, 'Sweet Charity,' with Gwen Verdon, for which he played from its tryouts in Philadelphia and Detroit to its entire 2-1/2 year run on Broadway and 6 months on the road. He also played in Judy Garland's orchestra during her famous appearances at the Palace in 1967. Other shows were 'Flower Drum Song,' 'Promises, Promises,' 'Hello, Dolly!,' 'Mame,' 'Bye, Bye Birdie,' 'Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,' and performances on the road with The Mitch Miller Show and John Davidson. He was a studio musician on such hits as 'Sugar, Sugar,' 'Hooked on a Feeling,' and 'Sweet Caroline' and a member of the Larry Elgart Orchestra during its residence at the Riverboat club at the foot of the Empire State Building. He also taught jazz guitar at The New School for Social Research and The Guitar Study Center in New York City. His clientele included movie stars, authors, Broadway performers, professors, and rock stars. In 1974, fate came visiting again. He began to study esoteric philosophies at The New School. Although he was fascinated by all religions, he found he could not stray from his Anglican/Catholic heritage. Even though he would have been happy playing guitar for the rest of his life, he was searching for something more. He found the history of Christianity fascinating and felt he had to become a priest in whatever way he could 'or die trying.' In 1975, after getting Jo's tentative approval, he entered the seminary and studied for the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, which welcomed married men. Now, his obsession with music became redirected towards his quest for the priesthood. He believed that God would direct him if he listened to the small voice inside that said, 'Take that road less travelled!' He found his mentor, Father Orville Gatti, at a small church in Fords, New Jersey, and, with the help of grants from the Diocese of New Jersey, took classes at The Episcopal Seminary in New York and The Cathedral Institute of Theology, all the while continuing to teach guitar. In 1978, after earning his Master's and Doctor of Ministry degree, the Very Reverend E. Walton Zelley, Jr., offered him the position of Director of Christian Education at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Metuchen, New Jersey. Although everything he had prepared for had arrived, it meant totally quitting the music business'but, as it turned out, not entirely. During his deaconate, he worked with the parish's youth, led the newly popular folk masses during the summer, and wrote a full jazz mass with orchestra and three choirs that premiered at his first mass as celebrant. At the end of the road less travelled, he was ordained a priest in June 1979. He served at St. Luke's for two and a half years when he was called by St. Paul's Church in Bound Brook, New Jersey to be their next Rector. It was 'a dream come true,' an Anglo-Catholic, multi-cultural, blue-collar parish. He became known for his down-to-earth, warm, and personal sermons with gentle messages of hope and love and for his pastoral work. The next six years were 'just a delight,' but as he reached his fiftieth birthday he began to search for the ideal parish. Cue 'Father Jazz,' Enter Stage Right! He and Jo moved back to their hometown outside of Philadelphia, to her large family's delight, and became Rector at Christ Church Ithan in Villanova, Pa. Here it turned out that playing jazz guitar itself could be a ministry. He renewed old acquaintances like Father John D'Amico, a former Roman Catholic priest and wonderful jazz pianist. After playing jazz vespers with him in the city one Sunday night, D'Amico offered to play at Christ Church only if Ron sat in. He did and Jo suggested that they make it a regular thing. Ron saw his roads not diverging but joyously converging. He had found his special ministry. Over the years he supplemented that ministry by leading 5 trips to the Holy Land, 2 missions to Costa Rica, and periods of study and ministry at Oxford University and Southampton, England. He retired in 2009 but stayed active in both music and ministry playing the first and third Wednesday at The Fireside Bistro in King of Prussia and as priest in charge at Annunciation in Mount Airy. Also, as always, teaching private students jazz guitar. In his last few years, progressively debilitating Alzheimer's Disease finally stopped the music and his carefully crafted, inspirational sermons, which usually sounded off-the-cuff ' just like jazz. A commemorative service will be held on Saturday, June 10th at 12 noon at Christ Church Ithan, 536 Conestoga Road, Villanova, Pa. 19085. Reception to follow in the Church Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for contributions in his memory to PHILABUNDANCE, 3616 South Galloway Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19148. STUARD ' NEWTOWN SQUARE A FAMILY TRADITION SINCE 1822