Rudolph Matthew Parker

Rudolph (Rudy) Matthew Parker was born April 12, 1920 in Mobile, Alabama and returned to meet his maker on March 14, 2015. Rudy was one nine brothers and sisters and is survived by his brother Leonard Parker of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Many considered Rudy of Hispanic descent but actually he was Spanish French Creole. The Parker family were the original owners of Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile Alabama on Fowl River once known as Parker’s Station a fishing and hunting resort. He began his humble life working as logger for his father’s timber sawmill in Mobile and later joined the Navy. In the Navy he served on the USS Nashville as cook. In WW11 his ship the USS Nashville was involved in transporting the islanders off the Islands prior to Hiroshima and on the USS Nashville when it was hit by a Kamikaze during WW11. Rudy was well liked by Commodore Ben Wyatt and after the Navy came to Coronado as Commodore Wyatt’s boat Captain on Wyatt’s Yacht the Kwajalein which Rudy practically built for the Commodore who was also the ambassador for the US to Spain.

Working for the Wyatt household is where he found the love his life of 60 years Amparo Hurtado Plascensia. Even though he didn’t speak Spanish and she didn’t speak much English they later were married having one child Josephine Maria and then later adopted Aurora Rosalia. After he left the Wyatt’s he continued to work many years at Coronado Yacht Club as a bartender, but his main career was for City of Coronado Public works department where he retired in 1985 after 30 years. Rudy accomplished many things for the City of Coronado like setting up for the Annual Flower Show, putting up the Christmas lights on the big tree on Orange and Tenth, but his most renowned was setting up and running the entire sewer pumping station system for the city and upon his retirement having to be replaced by 4 engineers. He was Honored with having one station dedicated to him and He always was proud to show off his pumping station named on Coronado avenue.

He was very involved with the Knights of Columbus at Sacred Heart Church being one of the first to begin Council 5216 and moved up the ranks to become Grand Knight, representative for the Imperial Council and becoming 4th Degree which was a great honor for him. One duty of the Knights was to help with the 4th of July parade In Coronado, many may remember him on the corner of 6th and Orange with speed up/slow down sign his duty and pleasure for over 20 years. Rudy was also very involved with the VFW Post 2422. For many years he would single handedly run the entire Memorial Day event at Star Park. He was so happy if only 10 people would show and was so proud last year to see such an enormous turn out of over 200 people. He was also involved in the Holy Name Society and American Legion and many other community events.

In his later years he was mostly known as the guy speeding down Orange Avenue or coming from his doctor’s visits on Second Street on his little red scooter. An unfortunate accident and his declining health slowed him down, but he always had a smile on his face and never complained. His last few years were spent at Coronado Retirement Village alongside his beautiful and loving wife Amparo and his faithful daughter Josie who was there daily. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, his daughter Josephine Parker Dallair, her two sons Parker Daniel Dallair of Texas, Paul William Dallair and his wife Caylee of Washington D.C., many beloved nieces and nephews, an adopted child Aurora Rosalia, her 4 children Christopher and Jennifer Sandoval and Nicholas and Victoria Munoz.

Services: viewing 5-9 Thursday March 19 Rosary, 7:30pm Funeraria del Angel Humphrey Mortuary 753 Broadway Chula Vista

Mass March 20th 1pm Friday Sacred Heart Catholic Church 7th and C ave Coronado.