Betty Augur Parker

She was born July 1, 1920 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of Wayland Bixby and Gladys Hamilton Augur. She grew up on Army posts and graduated from Stanford University in 1941. After college, Betty worked for the British Embassy, monitoring press reports about Great Britain. She married Lt. David S. Parker in 1942, at the time a recent graduate of West Point and someone she had known as a little girl. Her cheerful approach and exuberant energy helped her rise to the challenge of each change of assignment during General Parker’s 35-year career while raising four children, David, Bruce, Steve and Anne. At each of the 19 locations they resided, on both coasts and three times in the Panama Canal Zone, Betty found ways to engage in numerous educational, civic and charitable organizations. For Dave’s last assignment as Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, in her role as “First Lady,” she charmed visitors and residents with her ready smile and gracious manner. She oversaw the enhancement of the Governor’s House and its gardens and opened the residence to many groups for the first time. Upon their retirement in 1975, she continued with her passion for gardening and flower arranging in Tiburon, California, where they lived for 15 years as a base for many travels. When she moved to Alexandria in 1991 after Dave’s death, she continued to travel and to play tennis with the Ladies League at the Army–Navy Country Club, inspiring others as she played into her late ‘80s.

Many of her interests were lifelong. Education was always important to her. She taught nursery school and elementary school for several years when her children were young. In the 50’s and early 60’s she held leadership positions in the local and regional Northern Virginia PTA, addressing the needs of all children. While her husband was in Vietnam, she worked for the Research Center for the Head Start program in Hawaii. Betty was a top level Girl Scout, earning the Gold Award as a teenager. She continued to support scouting as Cub Mother and Troop Leader for her children, and then as a valued member of the Girl Scout Council in the Panama Canal Zone. She swam competitively in high school and continued to enjoy swimming all her life, particularly in later years at the beach with her family. She enjoyed being out of doors either in adventurous activities such as river rafting trips or just enjoying the beauty of the landscape or the shapes of passing clouds. Betty lived at the Fairfax Retirement Community since 2007 where she enjoyed many old and new friends and the special companionship of Dennis Scott. Her cheerful company will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, Maj. Gen. David S. Parker, in 1990. Survivors include her brother, Wayland Bixby Augur of Newport Beach, CA; three sons, David (Tricia) of Brevard, NC, Bruce (Peggy) of Alexandria, VA, Stephen (Kornelia Grabinska) of Fairbanks, AK; a daughter, Anne (Terry) Diggory of Saratoga Springs, New York; 6 grandchildren, Ross, Margaret, Kalina, Zawisza, Ariel, Parker; and 4 great-grandchildren, Caroline, Rebecca, Zosza, Maya.

Her family will hold a celebration of her life Saturday, February 6th at 11:00am at The Fairfax retirement community in Fort Belvoir, Va. Funeral services will be held at the Ft. Myer Old Post Chapel on Thursday, April 7th at 3:00pm with burial to follow at Arlington National Cemetery. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Army Retirement Residence Foundation, 9140 Belvoir Woods Parkway, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 or to the Washington public television station, WETA.org.