Robert "Bob" Parker, Jr. | Eastern North Carolina Now

Died: January 29, 2018

    Mr. Robert Leonard "Bob" Parker, Jr., age 84, a lifetime resident of Washington, NC passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 30, 2018 with his loving family at his side.

    Bob was born in Washington on January 9, 1934, son of the late Robert Leonard Parker, Sr. of Weldon, NC and the late Grace Adelaide Jackson Parker of Washington. He was a graduate of Washington High School. On July 5, 1954, he married the former Ann Dalton Brinkley of Washington and they were married 61 loving years. Bob was a Korean War Veteran, serving in the United States Coast Guard as Seaman First Class, and he was an active lifetime member and a deacon of First Christian Church of Washington. He was an active member of the Washington Kiwanis Club for many years where he served on the board of directors and was elected president for the 1994-1995 term after earning the honor of 1994 Kiwanian of the Year. He was an Allstate Insurance Agent in Washington from 1968 to 2000, and in his free time he enjoyed golf, dinner and movie dates, and spending time with family and friends. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed fishing on the coast of North Carolina, co-founding the Dorean Anglers Club in Hatteras, NC in the 1960s.

    Regarded among his peers as a joyful man with an impeccable sense of humor, Bob loved to laugh and thoroughly enjoyed bringing others to laughter. He believed family and friends to be integral to a life well lived, and he cherished his loved ones unconditionally. He was a loving son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, and great friend to many, and his love and laughter will be missed tremendously.

    Bob is survived by two children: Sharon Rhodes Parker Manning and husband Dr. Kenneth P. Manning, Sr. of Greenville, and his children Paul and Lisa, Robert "Bobby" Leonard Parker III, wife Jackie and her son Devin of Wilmington; five grandchildren: Christopher "Ryan" Whitford and Melissa of Washington, Marie Parker Manning of Greenville, Alden Christian Manning of Greenville, Robert Nicklaus "Nick" Parker of Raleigh, and Jackson Kirby Parker of Wilmington; two great grandchildren: Steven Kyle Whitford of Washington and Madison Elizabeth "Maddie" Whitford of Washington; a brother: Milton Lee "Bud" Parker and Helen of Winterville, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and wonderful friends. Along with his parents and wife, Bob is preceded in death by a daughter: Debra Ann Parker Whitford; a grandson: Louis Kyle Whitford and a sister: Martha Elizabeth Parker Worthington and husband Darrell.

    A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 2, 2018 at First Christian Church of Washington and will be officiated by Rev. Jacob W. Kines, Jr. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery. Alden Christian Manning, Jackson Kirby Parker, Robert Nicklaus "Nick" Parker, James Winfield "Jim" Parker, Steven Kyle Whitford, and Devin Michael Mantegna will serve as pallbearers.

    The family will receive friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 1, 2018 at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington and other times at the home.

    Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation/American Cancer Society or First Christian Church of Washington, 307 East 3rd Street, Washington, NC 27889.

    Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve Bob's family.