Obituary of Kenneth Eugene Parker

Kenneth Eugene Parker was born on March 6, 1937 to Vada Mae (Pat) Upp and Eugene Dennis Parker at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. On April 30, 1960 he married Karan Sue Ruble in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Their divorce was finalized on 20 December 1967. She died on 6 November 2002 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Their children are Eugene Dennis Parker II, Kenneth Monroe Parker and Sherline Denise Parker. There are six grandchildren: Eric Parker and Cindy Denise Parker (both of Aschaffenburg, Hessen, Germany), Gary Dean Sarbacher, Travis Ray Montague Sarbacher, Alexander Michael Grant Parker and Samantha Bonnie Elaine Parker (all of Northern California). On 16 January 1971, Ken married Shirley Ann Jibson in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. They were sealed for time and all eternity on 15 January 1972 in the Los Angeles Temple. Ken served honorably in the U.S. Navy, including time in the radar room on the USS Jack W. Wilke (DE-800), a Buckley-class destroyer escort. During his Navy service, he went back into a burning area of the ship to rescue and carry out another crewmember, not knowing he had already been killed. On two other occasions he was overcome by the fumes from lead paint and from carbon monoxide. Ken was extremely talented as a graphic artist and as a computer technician. He loved music and in his younger years played alto saxophone in a Navy band and in nightclubs in Key West, Florida. Life was often a trial for Ken but he rarely lost his sense of humor. He passed away suddenly on July 3, 2014 at West Hills Hospital, West Hills, Los Angeles County, California from septic shock. Burial was in Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, California on July 14, 2014. Ken was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his widow Shirley Ann Jibson Parker, his three children, six grandchildren, several aunts, uncles and cousins, and dear friends.