Luther Parker

1930 - 2025

Luther Ray Parker 94 of Austin, Texas was born in Dallas, Texas on December 28, 1930 to Hallie Byrd Strickland Parker and Luther West Parker. He died in the early morning hours of October 18, 2025, while under the compassionate care of the St. David's South Austin hospital staff, and Compassus Hospice Care following a very brief decline.
After attending public schools in Dallas, Luther graduated from Sunset High School, in 1948. He worked at various jobs very early on to help his family after the early passing of his father because he felt great responsibility for his mother and sisters. He worked for Armstrong and Dougherty pharmacies as a very young man. His friends eventually loaded him up and drove him to Austin to enroll in Pharmacy school at the University of Texas. He thought if he worked enough while attending classes, he would be able to complete his pharmacy degree, but he soon discovered that wasn't the case. Mr. Armstrong took care of his dilemma by generously loaning him the money to continue to attend pharmacy school. The promise was that he repay the loan upon graduation and beginning his career. He received his pharmacy degree from The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy in 1954. He worked for a couple of years at Dougherty's pharmacies before enlisting in the Army from 1956-1958 where he was in charge of a 500 bed hospital in Georgia. Returning to Dallas to work, he met Mary Ann Carswell in October 1958 where she was teaching music at Mark Twain Elementary School. After a short courtship, they were married on August 29, 1959, at First Presbyterian Church in Taylor, Texas where Mary Ann grew up. From the spring of 1959 Luther was director of pharmacy extension and assistant to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy Dean Burlage, at the University of Texas, and in 1964 became the Executive Director of Texas Pharmaceutical Association (TPA).
Faith and raising their family were always the most important thing in Luther and Mary Ann's lives. Robin Ann was born in June 1960, and Stephen Thomas born in July1963. A pillar of University Presbyterian Church, he was an ordained Elder, and active in the church for many years, tenor in the choir, and a faithful servant and member at UPC for over 60 years.
Luther, a registered pharmacist, retired as CEO of the Texas Pharmacy Foundation on December 31, 2002. He served as Executive Director of the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA), CEO and President of Texas Pharmacy Foundation (TPF), and clinical assistant professor at The University of Texas College of Pharmacy, where he taught health care administration, pharmacy law and contemporary pharmacy issues. Luther was very active in a number of local, state, national and international professional organizations in pharmacy and was Honorary President of the American Pharmaceutical Association in 1978. President of the Pan American Pharmacist Association, he actually delivered his acceptance speech in Spanish, in which he was fluent. He earned his MBA in Association Management at Florida Atlantic University and was a certified association executive (CAE) as well. Luther was a lifetime member of Downtown Rotary Austin; a Paul Harris Fellow; was awarded a life member of The Masonic Lodge of Texas; a member of Texas Exes; and was named a Legend of Texas Pharmacy through the University of Texas at Austin. He was an exemplary leader!
An avid gardener, runner, Texas wine enthusiast, and gym member until shortly before moving to Brookdale Senior Living Community in Westlake, he continued to take care of his health until way into his 90's. Luther ran The Capitol 10,000 marathon for 30 years, with his last race run in 2018. He and Mary Ann led numerous wine tours through the Texas hill country, sharing their love of both Texas and wine. He and Mary Ann's favorite place at their lovely home on Quill Leaf Cove was the porch off their bedroom lovingly referred to as "Pitty-Pat's Porch". When Brookdale became their new home in July 2024, the perfect apartment was found on the ground floor with a patio where "Pitty-Pat's Porch" was lovingly recreated where a flag was hung saying "Home Sweet Home", which Luther read aloud each day.
Luther is survived by his loving wife of 66 years Mary Ann, whom he told every morning she was beautiful! Children Robin Birdwell (Bob), Steve (Marti), grandchildren Adam Birdwell (Cristina), Blake Birdwell (Taylor), Whitney Parker Hatchel (Wes), Jordan Parker, Jacob Parker (Alyson), great-grandchildren Easton Parker Birdwell, Austin Jack Birdwell, Harper Elizabeth Hatchel and Nola Ray Hatchel. A host of precious nieces, nephews, and wonderful friends are also grieving his loss. He is predeceased by his sister Olga Jean Thompson (LeRoy), and Billie Dawn Smart (Glen).
The family would like to extend immense thanks to the staff and "family" of Brookdale Senior Living Community. The love and care of Helen Collie and staff has been extraordinary. Loving caregivers Shirley Spears from The Key, Alice Cobb and Naldy Arias from Brookdale at Home. Hannah Gartner of the Austin Geriatric Specialist group was instrumental in managing Luther's care in the last year, along with St. David's Home Healthcare's amazing nurses and therapists Jan Marie, Ashley, Rebecca, and Kristin.
In Luther's kind manner, here are some things he'd want you to do to remember him. Find the positive in each day, hold your partner's hand every day, always thank people for helping you even if it's their "job", help anyone and everyone you possibly can along the way, put God first and know that His plan is perfect always!
Memorial contributions can be made to University Presbyterian Church Austin, Providence Presbyterian Church at 5497 Providence Rd. Virginia Beach, VA, 23464 or any charity of your choice, be it one to help people or animals or the world in general!
Luther's Celebration of Life will be held at University Presbyterian Church 2203 San Antonio Street, in Austin on Saturday October 25th at 2:00 p.m.