Richard Owen Parker

Richard Owen Parker was born August 1, 1942 and entered his eternal home to be with his Savior on September 28, 2024. He was preceded in death by his father Owen Parker, his mother Edwinna Watson Parker, and his infant sister Vivian Jane. Richard was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma and relished his childhood of small-town living.

Richard was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Lorraine, his children Wendy, Craig (Yuritza), and Susan, and his grandchildren Cypress, Sean, Dylan, Ethan, and Jolene. He welcomed Stephannia and Bryan to be his grandchildren and Stephanno as his great-grandchild. Richard regarded his wife's nieces and nephews as his own and they in turn regarded him as their uncle.

Richard moved to Memphis, Tennessee in his middle-school years and graduated from South Side High School. Even before graduating he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and celebrated his eighteenth birthday on the rifle range at Parris Island. He graduated from Memphis State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and, while working on a Master's degree, joined the Memphis Police Department (MPD) where he was known by some as "the college boy." He served there from 1965 to 1994. His education enabled him to work in many capacities such as writing grants to procure the first computer system in the MPD, which replaced carbon copies of police reports. He also worked with teams of law enforcement officers to write procedures and/or buy equipment for specialized projects such as hostage negotiations and bomb squad equipment design. He traveled to other cities to study other law enforcement practices. Before retiring from the MPD, he learned locksmithing and set up his successful one-man business, which he ran for over twenty years.

One of his hobbies was woodworking where he made many items that were useful in the household or as gifts and fulfilled many wifely requests to make this or that for her. He enabled Lorraine to be a stay-at -home Mom for ten years while he worked extra jobs to supplement his police salary. And with all this he always attended soccer games or whatever else his children were doing. He served his church Christ the King Lutheran as Director of Operations for several years. His was a busy life well-lived!

A memorial service for Mr. Parker will be Saturday, October 12 beginning at one o'clock in the afternoon at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 5296 Park Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119.

Online condolences, floral tributes and directions may be found through www.memphisfuneralpoplar.com