Earl Jack Parker

Born on January 7, 1944, to Charlotte (Cole) Gruhn and Earl Wright Parker in East Orange, New Jersey, Jack has called the Atlanta area home since he was twelve. A graduate of Tucker High who attended UGA, he spent most of his professional career as a regional sales manager for Stanley Bostitch, selling fasteners and other equipment for the construction industry. Bringing on such big-name clients as Georgia Pacific, Home Depot and the Howard Brothers, if you asked him, though, he would just tell you he "sold nails".

A devoted patriot, Jack proudly served the US Navy from June 7, 1963-June 14, 1967. A distinguished radio mechanic and electronics technician, he served aboard the USS Enterprise during its global circumnavigation, where he received the National Defense Service Medal; the USS Lake Champlain, where he participated in the Gemini 5 Recovery; he was a plank owner on the USS America, and his final tour was aboard the USS Kingbird.

An engineer at heart with a natural gift for fixing things, he enjoyed a number of pursuits, including most notably his passion project of restoring a 1971 Firebird with his son and grandson. He also built beautiful, elaborate dioramas for his G-scale model train collection, right down to hand painting the figurines and building set pieces from found objects. He believed that anything worth doing was worth researching thoroughly, frequently becoming an expert on any subject that interested him. Friendship and family were paramount to him; he kept a standing lunch date with one of his best friends for the last several years. He loved traveling the world with his family, Star Wars, Mickey Mouse, listening to really great music, and a good road trip.

Jack is preceded in death by his father, Earl Wright Parker, his mother Charlotte (Cole) Gruhn, and his stepfather Richard Gruhn. He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Lynda (Collier) Parker, son Matthew Stanton Parker, (step)daughter Capiz Calloway and son in law Forrest Hasbrook, his grandson Declan Jack Parker, and many wonderful family members and friends who will miss him forever.

Visitation will be held at H.M. Patterson & Son-Canton Hill, 1157 Old Canton Road Ne, Marietta, GA 30068, US, on September 17, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will take place at H.M. Patterson & Son-Canton Hill, 1157 Old Canton Road Ne, Marietta, GA 30068, US, on September 18, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

A Committal Service will follow at Georgia National Cemetery -Canton GA, 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr, Canton, GA 30114, US, on September 18, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that you consider a donation in Jack's name to the Wounded Warrior Project by visiting www.woundedwarriorproject.org, or the Disabled American Veterans by visiting www.mydav.org.