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Billy G. Parker Gladstone, MO QCWA # 29425 Chapter 35 |
Billy Gene Parker, 85, of Kansas City, MO, formerly of Atchison, KS passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at the Kansas City Hospice House, Kansas City, MO.
Billy Gene Parker was born on December 10, 1926 in Atchison, KS, the son of James M. and Lottie (Merritt) Parker.
He graduated from Atchison High School in 1944 and had worked for the KVAK Radio Station which is now known as KAIR Radio Station. Mr. Parker served as a radioman in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II on board the USS EASTWIND in the North Atlantic and had been part of the US contingent to Greenland. He attended St. Benedicts College for one year upon his return from the war. In 1948 Mr. Parker went to work as an electronics engineer for the WSPB Television Station in Toledo, OH.
Billy met and was married to Lola Ruth Martens on July 31, 1948 in Angola, IN. They moved to Kansas City in 1954 and he worked for Channel 9 Television Station WHB, later changed to KMBC. In 1965 Billy helped build Channel 11, KTWU in Topeka, KS and in 1967 went to work for RCA Victor and travelled the world. He assisted in developing the first camera to be able to see a live feed on television. Billy joined KCTV 5 in Kansas City and retired from there in 1978. He was a member of the Linden Baptist Church, Gladstone, MO where he had served as a deacon. He was also a member of the V.F.W. Post #1175 and American Legion Post #6, both in Atchison, KS. He was a member of the American Radio Relay League, the Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association, the NEKS Railroaders Club, Atchison, KS, and the IBEW Local #1259.
Survivors include two sons; Dennis (Diana) Parker, Kansas City, MO, Phillip (Voni) Parker, El Paso, TX, a daughter; Cheryl (John) Veazey, Linwood, KS, two sisters; Rosalie (Maurice)York, Albany, MO, and Janice (Lewis) Barton, Merriam, KS, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
His wife Lola preceded him in death on May 16, 2010.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at the Linden Baptist Church, 611 NE 69th St., Gladstone, MO with Rev. Terry Webster officiating. The body has been cremated and a private family burial of cremated remains was held at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison, KS. The family suggests memorial contributions be given in memory of Mr. Parker to the Kansas City Hospice House and sent in care of the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, 800 Kansas Ave., Atchison, KS. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com
The Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral home is handling the arrangements for the family.