Lancaster-William H. Parker, 73, passed away peacefully at Vibra Hospital in Leicester on Sunday, July 23, 2017 following a lengthy illness. He is survived by his beloved wife Carolina (Salido) Parker; his two sons and their wives, W. Todd Parker & Laura of Niskayuna, NY; and Sean R. Parker & Eva of Buchanan, MI; and four grandchildren, Kayla, Jeremy, Zachary, and Juliana Parker. He leaves his siblings Florence Mae Meyer of CA; Charlotte Towne of ME; Robert Parker & wife Amanda of PA; Arlyn McNaney of SC; and Carolyn Parker of CA; numerous nieces, nephews, and many dear friends. He is pre-deceased by his first wife, Frances F. (Converse) Parker.
Bill was born in Morrisville, Vermont to the late Clifton & Florence (Simmons) Parker. He graduated from Peoples Academy in 1961, and obtained his bachelor degree in Religion from Atlantic Union College in 1966. He continued studies throughout his career to obtain degrees in English from Walla Walla University and La Sierra University and started his doctoral studies in English at University of Nevada before complications from diabetes forced his withdrawal. While at La Sierra, he was a recipient of the California Graduate Fellowship grant. Mr. Parker enjoyed his lengthy career as a teacher with several Adventist schools in Newfoundland, New York and Connecticut, and also taught and worked in Vermont before returning to and retiring from Atlantic Union College as an English Instructor. He was a devoted Christian and a member of several Seventh-day Adventist congregations during his life and enjoyed fellowship at the Evangelical Congregational Church in Lancaster in his later years. He was an avid reader who also enjoyed the hobbies of photography, drawing, listening to classical music, and tending to his prized flower garden. Bill will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. A Funeral Service will be held to celebrate his life at 11AM on Friday, July 28, 2017 in the Evangelical Congregational Church of Lancaster, 793 Main St., Lancaster, with a calling hour prior from 10 until 11AM in the church. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of William H. Parker to the Deacons Fund at the Evangelical Congregational Church of Lancaster, P.O. Box 413, 793 Main St., Lancaster, MA 01523 or to the Student Scholarship Fund at Atlantic Union College, PO Box 1000, South Lancaster, MA 01561. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water St., Clinton. Online condolences may be placed at www.philbincomeaufh.com