Richard Parker

Richard Parker, 77 of Robinson, Texas, passed away on April 20, 2024 at Baylor Scott and White Hillcrest Hospital with his wife at his side, after fighting several illnesses for most of his life. Graveside services will be held Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Worthem Bend Cemetery in China Spring with Rev. Kevin Diggs officiating from Mooreville Methodist Church, Richard's church.

Richard was born September 21, 1946 in Whittier, CA to Carroll and Lucille Parker. He attended high school in Salinas, CA until entering the Navy in 1965. He was a boiler operator on the USS Rogers, a destroyer, where he saw much action in the Viet Nam War. Richard was quite proud of his service. He almost died again a year after leaving the Navy when he developed a miocarditis. He has been dealing with his heart problems and other health issues since then.

He spent several years in pursuit of the right job and the right wife. He moved first to Arkansas and later to Waco. During this time, he married three times and had two daughters, Jeana Ray and Amanda Parker. Then he met Elaine Riess who was the love of his life. They married in April of 1988 and enjoyed 36 wonderful years together.

Richard discovered that he was a technical illustrator when he finally went to a drafting school to be retrained for a more sedentary career (his heart condition would not allow him to perform his former jobs). There he went on to do drawings for the manuals for the Universal Weightlifting, KD Manitou, General Dynamics and Lockheed-Martin. He drew the F16.

He was a great husband and father, accepting the step-children and step-grandson as his own, finding much joy in them. His own daughters have moved out of state and one even lives in Canada. He loved his family, his friends, and his church. He was active in church, his lodge, and his community. Richard was also a woodturner. What he did not give away, he sold. His art was beautiful and desired by all. He loved music. It never worked out whenever he wanted to sing or learn to play the guitar, but he listened to it most days. It was his therapy.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three older sisters. He is survived by his devoted wife, Elaine; daughters, Amanda Parker and Jeana Ray; step-son, Kevin Riess and wife, Shauvon Riess; and step-grandson, Jackson Riess.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tunnels to Towers or Fuzzy Friends Rescue Shelter. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Reliable Home Health, especially to Sherry O' Flattery and Adam Sims, and to Hillcrest Hospital for excellent and sensitive care over the years.