Barbara Lilian Parker

She served in the Women’s Royal Air Force as a Radio Operator in the early 1960’s. It was while stationed at the Bawdsey Radar Station, she and some of her friends would travel up to RAF Woodbridge for evenings at the base club. In 1963, she met a young enlisted airman named Richard Louie Parker whom she would marry a year later on June 20th, 1964 in Coventry. Over the course of Richard’s Air Force career, they lived in Summerville, South Carolina, Denison, Texas, Alamogordo, New Mexico, Zweibrücken AB, Germany and Abilene, Texas. Following his retirement, they settled down in Abilene with their four children.

Later on in life, she returned back to the workforce, working as a product demonstrator at the local Sam’s club for several years. Barbara and Richard began to enjoy retirement by participating in several cross country tours with the Bilbrey Tour Company, her last one being this past summer to Illinois and Michigan.

She is preceded in death by her parents Edward and Irene, one brother in-law Michael T. Parker and a nephew, Lee M. Parker.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 58 years Richard, three sons: Kevin R. and wife Linda Parker of Abilene, Trevor M. Parker of Abilene and Patrick K. Parker of Abilene. One daughter, Gayle R. Parker of Abilene. Brothers James E. and wife Patricia Duggins and Eric W. and wife Eileen Duggins of Coventry, England. One sister, Marion G. Davidson and companion Bob Ward of Coventry, England. Brother in-laws, Raoul and Sue Ann Parker of Kentucky, Rhys and Bonnie Parker of New Jersey, Gregory and Rosemary Parker of London, England. One sister in-law, Jeannie and Melvin Suzor of Michigan and along with several cousins, nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, 7457 W Lake Rd, Abilene, TX 79601 under the direction of the Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home.