In celebration of William Boyd Parker

William (Bill) Parker, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully in his home at the age of 90 after a brave 9 year battle with Alzheimer’s. Bill Parker was an amazing man. He was born October 1st, 1935 in Hugo, Oklahoma. Bill was the oldest of a family of 4 boys. Their lives were centered around family time, hunting, sports, having fun and working hard. Bill graduated from Hugo High School in 1953 and graduated from Oklahoma A&M w a Bachelors degree in Education. He was a loyal member of Sigma Chi. Bill served in the US Marine Corp for 2 years where he coached and played football and basketball while stationed at 29 Palms.

When Bill was 24 years old, he met Barbara Bond. When he first saw her walking down the street in Hugo, he told his friends, “I’m going to marry that girl.” And he did. Their first date was April 16th , they were married August 1 st ,1959, and they would have celebrated 67 years together in August.

Bill and Barb were blessed with 3 girls, Teri, Julie and Susan. All three of them were “daddy’s girls.” Together, they moved often with Bill teaching and coaching football from Idabel to Oklahoma City, Ringling, Ardmore, West Lafayette, Indiana where he earned his Masters Degree in Political Science from Purdue. They moved to Orange, Tx where Bill started an FCA huddle and helped it grow to the largest FCA Huddle in Texas. Then on to Frederick, Ok and back to Ardmore where Bill ultimately retired as Head Coach and Athletic Director before starting his successful New York Life career. Bill was consistently a high achiever with New York Life, including 25 years of Million Dollar Roundtable and the prestigious J. Hawley Wilson award. Bill’s favorite “coaching job” was his family, and Barbara was his number one fan and took loving care of him and their family.

Bill Parker was proud to be married to Barbara and loved her well his entire life. He was an amazing “Girl Dad” to his 3 daughters and adored his grandchildren who lovingly called him “Papa Coach.” Bill was an incredible leader in the community serving as past president of the Ardmore Village and past president of Ardmore Rotary. He was also the past president of the Administrative Council and several other leadership roles at First United Methodist Church.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Buff and Margaret Parker, his brothers Buff and Michael Parker. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughters Teri Hubbard and her husband Jeff, their 4 children Parker Hubbard, Spencer and his wife Courtney Hubbard, Emily and her husband Bryan Decan and Addison and her husband, Coby Brownrigg; his daughter Julie and her husband Kent Todd; his daughter Susan Pettit and her husband Brody and their two children, Ellie Pettit and Levi and his wife Haley Pettit, and 5 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his youngest brother, Tom Parker of Hugo, and his sister in laws, Faye Cannon of Shawnee, Janice Parker of Round Rock, TX and Charlene Parker of Monroe, Georgia.

Bill and Barbara were proud of their Hugo heritage and loved living in Ardmore, especially their time with friends at Fellowship Sunday School Class at First United Methodist. They enjoyed dancing, traveling on New York Life award trips, and their “family time” vacations at Bella Vista, Arkansas and frequent trips to Hugo.

Our family is so grateful that Barbara was able to keep Bill at home and well taken care of these last 9 years, and we would like to thank his loving caregivers and Cross Timbers Hospice here in Ardmore for their incredible support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Cross Timbers Hospice, The Alzheimer’s Association, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Funeral Services will be held at Ardmore First United Methodist Church at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 16th and he will be laid to rest at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, with a graveside service at 3:30 pm.

Parker Hubbard, Spencer Hubbard, Levi Pettit, Michael Parker, Gordon Parker, and Travis Parker will serve as pallbearers.