I compiled and submitted this obituary to the mortuary on Saturday morning to publish in the newspapers in Huntington, Utah, (where he was living at the time of his death) and Kennewick, Washington (where he and wife Josephine lived for nearly 35 years).
John Ira Parker, Sr., 86, passed away on May 25, 2006 in Salt Lake City due to complications of a sudden heart condition.
He was born October 5, 1919 in Chilly, Idaho to Solomon Ellis and Lily Ann White Parker. He grew up in Levinworth and Seattle, WA. Living during the Great Depression, he was forced to work as a teenager to help support his family.
He married Josephine Madeline Brenn on May 31, 1942 in Seattle. They would have celebrated their 64th anniversary this month.
John joined the U.S. Army Air Force in Seattle, and served as a B-24 staff sergeant gunner for the 5th Air force, 43rd Bombardment group, 64th Bombardment Squadron, also known as "Ken's Men," in the Southwest Pacific theater from Sept. 1942 to Sept. 1945, under Gen. George Kenney. During this period, he was awarded the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Oak-leaf Cluster.
After the war, he and Josephine moved to Kennewick, WA, where they lived for nearly thirty-five years, raising three sons, who all graduated Kennewick High School, and managing a car dealership and repair shop. He was a long-time member of the LDS Church and pioneer of the area.
In the late 70's, they moved to Huntington, UT, to be close to their sons and their families. He operated the theaters in Huntington for over two decades. This is where he was residing at the time of his passing.
John is survived by his wife, Josephine Madeline Brenn; eldest son John Ira, Jr. (Shana Le Parker) of Orem, who served as Emery County Commissioner for six years; youngest son, Craig Allen of Huntington; 14 grandchildren; and 22 great-grand-children.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Solomon Ellis and Lily Ann White Parker; ten brothers and sisters; and his sons, Van Ellis (Betty Parker), and Mark.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 1st, at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Lakeview Eighth Ward Chapel, 155 West 1600 South, Orem, Utah. A viewing will precede the service, beginning at 9:45 AM.
John will be receiving a full-military grave-service and internment at Camp Williams Cemetery, Bluffdale, Utah.
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