Eugene "Gene" LeRoy Parker, Jr., 88, of Plainfield, New Jersey passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at JFK Hospital in Edison, NJ.
A graveside service will be conducted Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 1:30 P.M. at Lawrence Cemetery with Father Richard Zalesak officiating. Military honors will be provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. A reception will follow the service at Mt. Pleasant Grille, 100 South Main Street, Mt. Pleasant.
Born July 14, 1924 in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, to Amy Alice Hoge Parker and Eugene LeRoy Parker, he was a graduate of Hay Long High School, Harvard College '46, and Harvard Law School '50. He served in the US Navy aboard the USS LCT #1092 in Leyte Gulf in the Philippines with BB69, the 7th Fleet Flagship Mighty MO. during WWII.
Married in 1948 he lived in North Babylon, Long Island, NY and worked for Chase Bank in New York City before moving to Plainfield in 1963. He served as President of Warren County Bank in Washington, NJ before it merged with First National State Bancorp, today part of Wells Fargo. Expanding banking statewide, he created branches from local buildings such as train depots and historic homes. He was a long time supporter of the Plainfield Symphony and The Paper Mill Playhouse. Active in the Harvard Club of New Jersey, he also served on the vestry and as Senior Warden for Grace Episcopal Church, Plainfield. After retirement in 1989, he traveled the world on 50+ trips with Elderhostel (Road Scholar), particularly enjoying the cruises on canals, rivers, and oceans.
He is survived by his beloved family, his wife of 64 years, Jane Gates Washburn Parker, and their 5 children: E. LeRoy Parker III, Esq. (JoAnn); Suzann Parker Leist (Joe); Wendy Parker Knudsen, MD (Mark); Gates Washburn Parker, DMD (Cathy); Prior Lewis Parker, MD (the late Caryn). Proud grandfather of 9: Willis (Krissy), Jones (Lisa), Alden (and special friend Taryn), and Eliza (and special friend Matthew); Arielle VanArsdall (Ryan); Noah and Sarah; Jacqueline and Olivia. Great-grandfather of 3: Kaile, Macy, and Jackson. Many cousins, nieces and nephews also survive him. His only sibling, Susan Hoge Parker Bishopric of North Carolina, preceded him in death.
Information compiled by Mary Bob McClain Richardson 18 Apr 2015
