Mike was born in Wilmington, NC and raised at Kure Beach and Carolina Beach, North Carolina. Mike served nine years as Captain in the US Air Force as a pilot and navigator during the Vietnam War and was a recipient of the Air Medal. He was a graduate of California Polytechnical University in Pomona, California in Aerospace Engineering. He worked at Kennedy Space Center with all the Apollo space missions and was in the control room for all launches. After his tenure with space program he worked with TVA in the nuclear power. He returned to Kennedy Space Center to work on the space shuttle. He returned to TVA as a nuclear engineer in Knoxville. Mike retired from the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, relaxing at the beach and authored his autobiography. Preceded in death by parents, Jasper Jay Parker and Frances King Parker Ward. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Donna Rochat Parker; four sons, Bruce (Angie), Ron, Mike, and James (Jana) Parker; daughter-in-law, Agnes; grandsons, Nathan, Aaron and Ronnie Parker; sister, Frances Parker Brittain and husband Shuny, nephews, Mike and Joey Turbeville; father-in-law, Raymond Rochat and mother-in-law, Betty Rochat and many extended family members. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Sunday, September 23, 2018 in the chapel of Berry Highland West, 9913 Sherrill Blvd, Knoxville, TN with A Celebration of Life service to follow at 7 PM . Rev. Gene Hurley officiating. Family and friends will meet at 11:30 am, Monday, September 24, 2018 at Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements by Berry Highland West. www.berryhighlandwest.com
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