Martha M. Parker

Martha McMillan Parker, of Marblehead, died on July 10, 2015 after a long illness. Born in Bay City, Michigan in 1921, daughter of Archibald and Blanche McMillan, she graduated from Bay City Central High School, studied aeronautical engineering at Cornell University during World War II and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1945.

While in high school, she was Treasurer of the sophomore class and was president of the Women’s League, attended and was a counselor at American Youth Foundation Camp Miniwanca on Lake Michigan. There she learned how to sail and develop a lifelong love of sailing.

While in college she was a member and Treasurer of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

She worked at Curtis Wright Aircraft in Buffalo, New York during WWII on aircraft design. She did research on radomes, global positioning systems and earthquake early warning systems for Technology Consultants. She also worked at Marblehead Manufacturing/Hood Sailmakers in their testing laboratory during the America’s Cup Races at Newport, Rhode Island.

She was a member of the University of Michigan Club of Greater Boston and the Peabody Essex Museum. She was also an active member of the Old North Church in Marblehead. There she was a Sunday school teacher, on the flower committee, chairman of the Adult Education Committee and Senior Deacon. She also served on the Church Council and was a delegate of the Essex Association and the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ.

She played the piano and was an avid sailor, skier and biker.

She is predeceased by her husband Roger, survived by her children Christie and Mike and his wife Martha, and her grandchildren Catharine and Victoria; predeceased by a brother Arch McMillan, a brother Edward McMillan, and a sister Teri Harris; and survived by many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Old North Church, 35 Washington Street in Marblehead on Saturday, August 22 at 10:30AM. The family would welcome donations in Martha’s name to honor her memory to the Old North Church Memorial Fund, 8 Stacey Street, Marblehead, MA 01945. Arrangements by Eustis and Cornell of Marblehead.