Evelyn Parker

In 1935 she married Clifford Parker in Southern Minnesota and had five children: Virginia Holmes, Larry Parker, Daniel Parker, Gloria Ward, and Vera Martinez. They and their 5 children, 9 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren span five generations. Born a farm girl in Southern Minnesota, Evelyn lived a full and accomplished life.

Married during the great depression, Evelyn and Cliff managed to overcome many challenges and built a growing, thriving, and happy family. As a member of World War II’s “Greatest Generation”, she and Cliff moved to Northern California to work on building war ships. Evelyn became a welder and called upon to do the most difficult jobs. After the war the family moved to Northern Minnesota and built a dairy farm comprised of prized milk cows. When the Korean War broke out, they moved back to California where Evelyn became an aircraft relay adjuster for Leach Relay. Years later, in a quirk of fate, her son, Larry Parker became the President of that company. The family then moved to Palmdale, California on a small acreage; where the family enjoyed gardening and growing fruits and vegetables. Evelyn worked for the telephone company ushering in the computer age. She became an expert on the phone company’s computer system. Retiring in the late 1960’s, she enjoyed traveling and her favorite sport, fishing.

After three years of traveling the United States, Cliff and Evelyn retired in Anderson, California. Evelyn loved knitting, dancing, fishing, and playing the organ. She joined the local Senior Center and became a member of the Board of Directors. As a member of the Board she helped raise over a million dollars to build a new Senior Center. Evelyn managed the finances for the center and kept their books for many years.

Evelyn lived a long and accomplished life: Farm Girl, World War II Ship Builder, Minnesota Dairy Farmer, Aircraft Relay Expert, Office Computer Whiz, Thrift Store Manager, Senior Center Board of Directors, Financial Manager, Book Keeper and one of the World’s Best Dancers. Widowed approaching her 90’s, she moved to New Braunfels and lived with her daughter Gloria Parker Ward, where Evelyn continued her long and fruitful journey, now with the Lord.

A Memorial Service will be held at Zoeller Funeral Home on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 11:00am.