Leonard Burton Parker

He was born June 5, 1930 in Little Rock Arkansas to George and Flossie Parker. After graduating from North Little Rock High School, he enlisted and served four years in the US Navy. He was stationed in Hawaii and Adak, Alaska. He attended the University of Arkansas and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduating, he signed on with General Dynamics. Shortly after moving to Fort Worth, he married Martha Jane Wilson in 1958 and attended Travis Avenue Baptist Church for 44 years, until her premature death in 2002.

In 2004 he married Patricia Duke and they happily spent his remaining 18 years together traveling and enjoying the quiet outdoors feeding the hummingbirds. They traveled and sang with the Praise Singer’s Choir with the Travis Avenue Baptist Church.

Leonard retired from General Dynamics/Lockhead after 35 years. He enjoyed fishing at the Benbrook marina with Ernest, hanging out with others at Nortex Electrical Surplus, building computers, and photography. He volunteered at the Tarrant County Archives for over 14 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Flossie Parker; his wife, Martha Jane Parker; and his sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Dale Compton.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Patricia Parker of Gorman; his son, Alan Parker and his wife, Patricia of Lake Worth; bonus children, James Duke and his wife, Tamyra of Abilene; Debbie Scott and her husband, Terry of Gorman; Linda Jarvis and her husband, John of Fairfield; Benny Duke and his wife, Diana of Fairfield; and a host of grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces; and nephews.