A Mass of Christian Burial for William J. Parker (Bill), almost 95, of Granville, will be held at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, 10 A.M., Saturday, October 17, 2026, with Fr. Timothy Hayes as celebrant and Msgr. Paul Enke as concelebrant. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Newark.

He was born in Dayton, Ohio on October 27, 1931, to the late Joseph and Dorothy (Feeney) Parker He and his late wife, Barbara were parishioners of St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church and prior to that, parishioners of St. Francis de Sales. After a hospital stay, Bill passed away on Sunday October 11, 2026.

Bill attended The Ohio State University and in 1954 received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He accepted employment in July 1954 with the Delco Products Division of General Motors, Dayton, Ohio. Having attended Ohio State under the ROTC program, he honored his commitment as a pilot with the United States Air Force. He served from September 1954-September 1957 and ended his three-year commitment at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois. He returned to Delco Products but in 1961 accepted employment with the Newark Air Force Base as a mechanical engineer. He joined a new program established to repair missile and aircraft guidance systems for the U.S. Air Force. He retired in 1993 following 32 years of dedicated service.

Bill was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Bishop Michael J. Ready Assembly 830 and also a member of Council 721. He was devoted to his faith and spent many hours quietly reading the Bible. A man of much thought, Bill was methodical in his approach and acted with integrity and purpose. He enjoyed golf, kept meticulous family photo albums, and always had a project in the works, whether it be tinkering with household items or working in detail on scale models. Bill was a proud supporter of The Ohio State University football program, devotee of Woody Hayes and sometime critic of more recent coaches. When his children were in school, he volunteered many hours with the Newark Catholic Athletic Association.

He will be greatly missed by his 7 children, Bill (Sherrie) Parker, Bob (Kelly) Parker, John (Fran) Parker, Susan Parker, David (Natalie) Parker, Jim (Sonya) Parker, and Tom Parker; 13 grandchildren, Kate (Jan), Brooke (Dave), Emma, Lindsay (Chris), Alexa (Ryan), Jackson (Paige), Hallie (Norman), Luke, Jude, Nicholas, Samuel, Gabriella, and Madalyn; 8 great-grandchildren, Addison, Reece, Beckham, Bailey, Sully, Rosie Jo, June and Charlie; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Margie Parker, John (Sue) Bratton, and Don Bratton; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Barbara (Bratton) Parker; and his brother, Alonzo “Lonnie” Parker.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill's name can be made to St. Vincent de Paul, 115 Wilson St., Newark, Ohio, 43055; or the Newark Catholic High School Foundation, 1 Green Wave Drive, Newark, Ohio 43055.

Visitation hours will be held at the REED-EGAN FUNERAL HOME, 141 Green Wave Drive, Newark, Friday, October 16, 2026, 4-7 P.M., with a Vigil Service held at 6:30 P.M.

To share your memory of Bill or leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.reedegan.com