George Edward Parker

George Edward Parker, age 99, passed away peacefully on Monday, the 21^st of October 2024.

George was born on the 11^th of February 1925 to Stevie and Autie Parker in Idabel, Oklahoma. He was the third of four sons. His father was a Methodist Minister and was commissioned in the Army as a Chaplain in the early 1930’s. George and his brothers Jim, John Benny, and Raymond were blessed with an interesting childhood moving around southeast Oklahoma and then around the country with the Army. The Parker boys had unique opportunities to live, camp, and explore when, as part of his father’s duties as an Army Chaplain, their travels took them to Yellowstone and Tucson where he provided services to the Civilian Conservation Corps camps. They later lived at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and Fort Riley, Kansas where he witnessed the transition from Horse Cavalry to Infantry.

He graduated high school from Junction City High in 1943 and immediately entered the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program to serve in WWII. Commissioned as a second lieutenant earning his wings as an Air Corps pilot. He was assigned to fly the Boeing B17 bomber as a co-pilot on the John Lindholm crew with the 748^th Squadron of the 457^th Bombardment Group (Heavy) stationed at Glatton Army Airfield in Conington, England. He flew 17 missions, starting two weeks after his 20^th birthday, flying from February 1945 through April 1945. His mission list included two missions that required making a perilous return home in crippled aircraft. Post war he was stationed in Germany where a visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp left a lifelong impression.

After his discharge from the service, he attended school at the University of Kansas, TCU, and SMU with a focus on Geophysics. During this time, he met his first love and wife of 47 years, Laura Conner, III.  They were married on the 12^th of August 1947 in her hometown of Augusta, Arkansas. He started work in 1950 with Southern Geophysical living a nomadic life as a member of a Geophysical Crew in West Texas. After six years of traveling around the state, they settled in Midland, Texas in 1957 and adopted Robert in 1958 and David in 1960. George spent 40 successful years in the Geophysical Exploration business working for Southern Geophysical, Empire Geophysical, Independent Exploration, and Teledyne Exploration working his way up from Computer Trainee to Party Chief, Supervisor, Division Manager, Vice-President, and culminating as President of Teledyne Exploration in the 1980’s. He was active member of the Society of  Exploration Geophysicists, Geophysical Society of Houston, and the National Ocean Industries Association. During this period, they lived in Houston in the early 1960’s, Dallas, New Orleans, with a return to Houston in 1968 where he remained until 2020. He was a supporter of the Boy Scouts of America serving on the board of the Sam Houston Area Council and working with Troop 642 where both his sons were Eagle Scouts. He made two trips to Philmont Scout Ranch and a trip to Camp Tres Ritos to participate in high adventure back country treks in the mountains of New Mexico with his sons and the scout troop. He grew to love and follow the Texas Aggies during Robert’s time at A&M in the Corps of Cadets.

After retiring from Teledyne in 1990, George was active in the Memorial Drive Methodist Church and Sunday School. He was a member of the Stephen Ministries program serving others in need. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. George was designated a Living Legend by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists  (SEG) and was active with supporting the Geophysical Museum.

Laura passed away in April 1994. George found a second chance at love with Maggie Farris Ryden who was also widowed. She was a longtime family acquaintance and the Director of Children’s Education at the MDUMC. They were married on the 7^th of September 1995. George and Maggie had been married for 29  years.

George was preceded in death by his wife Laura, his parents, Chaplain(Major) Stevie and Autie Parker, his son David Parker, and his brothers Jim, John Benny, and Ray.

A loving husband, dedicated father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, George is survived by his wife Maggie, his son Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Robert and wife Deborah of College Station, stepdaughter Sandra (Ryden) Wilson and her husband Doug of Forney, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, Ryan and his wife Lindsay of Houston, Michael and his wife Katie (Emma, Ethan, and Laura) of Dickinson, Sharolyn and her husband Drew of Grand Prairie (Wesley and Grayson), Shannon Wilson of Forney, and Daniel Wilson and his wife Lisa (David Arnet) of Stanford, KY.

A celebration of George’s life will be held at 2:30PM on Friday the 8^th of November 2024 in the Arbor Oaks Chapel located at 2505 E. Villa Maria, Bryan, Texas 77802.

George will be interred next to Laura in Augusta, Arkansas at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the 457^th Bomb Group Association via Pay with PayPal at worldwar2457th@gmail.com or by check to Adele Gilmore, Treasurer at 3070 37^th Avenue S., St. Petersburg, Florida 33712;  or to the 8^th Air Force Historical Society at Donate | 8th Air Force Historical Society. Express condolences to the family at www.CallawayJones.com.