Robert Bonham Parker died on Jan. 18, 2016, of natural causes in Chapel Hill, NC, at 95. Born on Nov. 13, 1920, in Garland, AK, the only son of Robert Everett Parker and Theresa Eliza Bonham, both educators. Graduated from Plumerville High School at 16 and attended Arkansas Tech University, then the University of Missouri, from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1941. He served in the U.S. Navy as an officer on the USS Pensacola in the Pacific during WWII. He married Betty Ruth Sass of Willow Springs, MO, in May 1944 while on leave in San Francisco.
Bob’s journalism career included reporting for the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and the Courier–Post in Hannibal, MO, followed by a lengthy tenure with Time-Life Corp. that took him and Betty to Washington DC, Toronto, California, Paris and New York City. They moved to Port Washington in 1956, where they raised their two daughters. Bob worked as a writer, desk editor and chief correspondent for Time Magazine, a career that sent him on adventures throughout the world. In 1978, he took an early retirement from Time and worked as a freelance writer. He became active with Hutton House, the adult education center at CW Post, serving in leadership positions for several years.
In 2001, Bob and Betty moved to Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill, NC, where he was immediately recruited as the volunteer editor of the community newsletter, The Meadowlark. Bob enjoyed riding his bicycle, researching family history, reading about current events and attending the many community activities offered at Carolina Meadows, where he was fondly greeted by staff and residents alike. He also had a lifelong love of travel, especially if it involved being on a body of water.
Survived by his wife of 72 years, Betty Parker, daughters Doris Parker (Michael Spatz) and Carol Parker (John Bunzick) and grandson Andrew Parker Spatz (Oraly). No services are planned. Interment was at Historic Oakwood Cemetery (Veteran’s Section) in Raleigh, NC. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.
