Alan Fletcher Parker

1952 - 2016

Alan passed away June 16 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center after a brief illness. He was surrounded by loving family and friends, music, prayers and laughter.
Alan was born Jan. 30, 1952, in Mt. Kisco, New York, but was raised in the Northeast Kingdom. Alan grew up with a love of music, fishing, gardening, hunting, baseball, church and community. He was a passionate reader, thinker, historian and independent learner.
Alan graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1970. He attended Wesleyan College and finished his bachelor's degree many years later at CCV before becoming a minister. He could complete The New York Times crossword puzzle even faster than he could get the dishes done.
Alan was married to Elaine Grace Stone for 11 years. They had two children, Amos and Ben. Alan loved fishing with the boys in Houghton Brook, playing catch, reading countless bedtime stories, and working outside.
Alan was lovingly married to Valerie Ducharme for 10 years and was a caring stepfather to Anthony, Josh, Adam and Aimee Ducharme.
For the past 16 years, Alan and the love of his life, Ginny Flanders, built a rich and wonderful world together in Danville along with Ginny's children Tamsin and Jed. They created a flourishing homestead which was a place of welcome and comfort for family, friends and newcomers.
One of Alan's final, but most loved roles was that of grandfather to George and William. Time with "Crampa" was precious, full of wonder, love, monkeying around, and being sung to sleep with "Amazing Grace."
Alan had a varied career working in radio, agriculture and as a conservationist, but it wasn't until he was called to the ministry that all of his passions so perfectly matched his vocation. He became the pastor of the United Church of Craftsbury in 2006 and was ordained in 2013.
Alan volunteered countless hours in both Danville and Craftsbury. He served as a school board member, church deacon, directed plays, coached baseball, sang in many different groups, and sat on numerous boards of directors. He tirelessly worked to make the world a better place. Most recently Alan found joy as a member of Continua, the hospice singing group who sang and brought comfort to him and his family during his illness.
Alan is survived by his life-partner, Virginia Flanders; mother, Elizabeth (Bets) Parker Albright; sons Amos Parker (Jennifer Andrews), Benjamin Parker (Elizabeth Parker); stepchildren Tamsin Flanders, Jed Flanders; brothers Scudder Parker (Susan Sussman), Stephen Parker (Susan Terry), Malcolm Parker (Julianna Simon); step-siblings Barbara Albright (Jacob Allen), Peter L. Albright (Karen Bucke Albright), Matthew Albright; grandchildren George and William Parker, great-uncle Van Parker (Lucille Parker); and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. Alan was predeceased by his father Scudder M. Parker, his stepfather C. Peter Albright, and his sister Sally Cort Abdalla.
A celebration of Alan's life will be held Monday, June 20, at 3 p.m., at The Danville Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Craftsbury Community Care Center and/or the Pope Memorial Library for the Danville Community Center capital campaign.
"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." - J.M. Barrie