William E. Parker

                   William E. Parker, age 94, passed on Jan. 15th.

     He graduated from Lorain High School in 1943 and then joined the Army Air Force as a student pilot. He was also the Base Commander's Chauffeur until the end of WWII. In 1944 he married Jean Schlachter and remained married to her for 72 years until she passed in 2018. 
     After an honorable discharge from the service, he returned to Lorain and worked for HFC and then 30 years for Sears. While a Sporting Goods manager for Sears, he organized small boat races in Lorain and Cleveland and learned to water ski.
     He played softball until he was 46, semi-pro hockey until age 41, and served as Winter Sports Director for Lorain, including teaching boys to play hockey. Later he was in Rotary and a Mason for 60 years.
     Bill served Lorain as a councilman for 18 years and as Mayor from 1980 until 1984. He then retired to travel, fish in Canada, become a "Snowbird" in Arizona's sunshine, and continued to golf and sing in choirs.
     Throughout his life he attended weekly church services, sang in church choirs, and served on many church committees.
     He is survived by daughter Denna Parker, son Bill (Anne) Parker, grandsons Ryan (Emily) Parker, Andrew (Mairead) Parker and their son Tobias and Michael Parker.
     He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward & Margaret Parker, sister Arlene Parker and brothers Dean Parker & Thomas Parker.
     Visitation for friends and family will be from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Monday at Lorain Lighthouse U.M. Church with a service following. Please do not wear fragrances. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial in Bill's name to Lorain Lighthouse U.M. Church on Meister Road, 3015 Meister Road, Lorain, Ohio  44053.

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