Sidney Glen Parker was born January 21, 1925, to Sidney Parker and Elizabeth Ingle Parker, on a farm outside Campbell, Texas. He was the second child, the first being a girl, Marjorie, better known today as Dude. He also has a younger sister, Peggy.
After graduation from high school, Sid pursued his education at East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. His father had the vision and foresight that the way off the farm for his children was through education. Further education called to Sid and he earned his doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin in 1951.
His first job out of college was with Mobile Oil here in Dallas for two years. Then he accepted employment with DuPont in Aiken, South Carolina, for four years, where he worked with DuPont’s atomic energy program, separating plutonium used in atomic bombs. He later accepted a position with Texas Instruments, where he retired in 1991 after 34 years of service. While at TI, he conducted research and development in a variety of areas, from conversion of tantalum ore to metal for electrical circuitry, to the creation of fuel cells and a magnetic bubble memory program. He holds nine patents and has written dozens of technical articles. When he retired from TI, he was helping them develop ways to harness the sun’s energy.
Sid married Bette Joyce Covey on November 9, 1968, and she died October 17, 1996. They had one son, Charles “Chuck” Parker. Sid has always been a dedicated Christian family man who cared for his parents as long as they lived and his wife Bette through a long and painful illness. He taught a singles Sunday school class at Highland Baptist Church for 38 years, where he also served as a deacon. After Bette’s death, he moved to Richardson, where he joined the Cliffhangers Sunday School class at First Baptist Church, Richardson. He served two terms as President of that class. Sid loved God, family, and his friends; you will not find anyone with a kinder heart or a more loving spirit.
He is survived by his good friend , Laura Rich of Richardson, TX; son, Charles Parker of Dallas, TX; sister, Peggy L. Wade of Farmersville, TX; nephew, James M. Boucher, Jr. & wife Ginger of Refugio, TX; nieces, Patricia A. Wade and Debbie J. Smith & husband Greg of Farmersville, TX; and great-niece, Elizabeth Boucher-Arcand, husband Brett & son Rayven of Corpus Christi, TX.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Sidney G. Parker Sr. & Elizabeth M. Parker; wife, Bette J. Parker; Sister Marjorie Boucher & husband James M. Boucher, Sr.; and niece, Gay Lynn Boucher.
A Memorial Service will be held at First Baptist Church, Richardson, on Tuesday, September 28, at 11 am.
