Jack B. Parker, retired professor and dean of the General College at LSU died on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at Baton Rouge General Hospital after a short illness. He was 91. A native of Monroe, Louisiana, he graduated from Neville High School where he was an all-state offensive guard on legendary Coach Bill Ruple’s Tiger football team and also played for Coach A.L. “Red” Swanson at Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now UL-Lafayette). After serving in the Marine Corp Reserve and Air Force in Korea, he returned to college to complete master and doctorate degrees in Social Work and Criminal Justice.
His distinguished career included Director of Mental Health Training, Capital Regional Mental Health Consultant, Executive Director of the Capital Regional Mental Health Planning Commission, LSU Professor and Head of the Department of Criminal Justice and dean of the General College at LSU. During retirement, he served for many years as a volunteer at the Baton Rouge Crisis Center. He was a member of honor society Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) as well as The Sunrise Rotary Club of Baton Rouge where he proudly served as president (1993-1994). In 2006 he was inducted into Kappa Alpha Order’s Court of Honor.
He was preceded in death by his parents A.D. and Ethel Parker of Monroe, Louisiana, brother A.D. Parker Jr. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and daughter Laura Parker Hough of Kirkwood, Missouri. Survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Marianne Buce Parker, son Bruce Norman Parker (Debra), daughter Polly Parker Stafford all of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Grandchildren Cameron Parker Stafford and Madeline Claire Parker of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Wyatt Parker Hough and William Frederick Hough of Kirkwood, Missouri and sister-in -law Gene Rife Parker.
Funeral services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge on Friday, April 14, 2023 at noon. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. in the church common room. Following, there will be a reception in the common room. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Trinity Episcopal Church Music Fund or the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe Louisiana.
