Marvin A. "Butch" Parker Jr.

Marvin A. "Butch" Parker, Jr. passed away unexpectedly at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, FL on Sunday, September 17, 2023.He was born August 30, 1946 in Norfolk, VA to Vivian (nee Howell) & Marvin A. Parker, Sr. When he was born his dad said, "I now have my Butch," and the name stayed with him throughout his entire life. Butch and his parents lived in Chesapeake, Virginia but then moved to New Jersey, then to Pennsylvania, next to Michigan and finally to Amherst, Ohio. He graduated from Marion L. Steele High School in 1964 and then from Kent State, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree. After college graduation, he worked his way through the management program to become a manager with Woolworths. He was in the Cleveland area for a while but then transferred to the Cincinnati area for a couple of years before relocating back to Willowick, Ohio. It was through a friend of his that he met his wife, Marilyn Arnold, on a blind date in 1976. A year and a half later, on June 25, 1977, they were married and resided in Euclid, Ohio. In 1980 he left his job with Woolworths and moved to Lorain, Ohio where he worked as a manager at Big Town until they closed. After the store's closing, he then became a manager with Rite-Aid up until 2007 when he could no longer work due to his health. After Marilyn retired from teaching at Firelands High School in 2008 they became snowbirds to Ellenton, Florida in 2009. They stayed snowbirds until they permanently moved to their place in Ellenton in 2021. In the mid '80s they both joined the former Amherst Congregational United Church of Christ, where they were both very active. He was head of trustees for a while and he was always helping Marilyn with the hospitality committee. Butch also joined in many activities with Marilyn at school. They chaperoned proms every year, many homecoming dances, and went to school concerts and plays. He undeniably loved his family and his friends and enjoyed being with them as much as possible. He also loved a good laugh and will forever be remembered for his. He always thought the most important things in life were being positive, having laughter, loving his family & friends and a strong faith in God. To say he was an extremely loving and kind man is an understatement.He is survived by his wife Marilyn, his sister Brenda Buchs, brother-in-law Dexter Arnold, brother-in-law Bill Bass, several nieces and nephews, great nieces and a couple of great great nieces. He was in preceded death by his parents Marvin and Vivian Parker, his sister Shirley Bass, and nephews Gary Todd and Tim Todd.The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 from 2 â€" 7 pm in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. His funeral service will be on Wednesday, the 27th, at 1:00 pm, also in the funeral center. For those unable to attend, his funeral service will be livestreamed through the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center's You Tube page. Burial will be the following week at Easton Township in Ionia County, Michigan. Contributions, in Butch's memory, can be made to the Community Congregational United Church of Christ, 379 S. Main Street, Amherst, OH 44001. To send an online condolence, please visit www.dovinreberjones.com.