MORGAN COUNTY
Dr. George F. Parker, 98, passed away Sunday morning, June 25, 2017, at the Morning Pointe Assisted Living Community in Franklin. He was a resident of Morgan County and former resident of Indianapolis.
He was born in 1918 in Terre Haute to his parents, the late George Faisal and Susie Friejie Parker.
George graduated from Wiley High School in 1936. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Indiana University in 1940 and his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati Medical School in 1943.
He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a captain.
During his medical training, he fell in love and married Dorothy Rose “Dotty” Matre in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 7, 1945. Together they settled in Indianapolis, where he practiced pediatrics and pediatric allergy from 1948 to 1990.
They raised a family of nine children and were longtime parishioners of St. Therese, Little Flower Catholic Church. They are members of the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Nashville.
George will be remembered by his family and friends as a devoted husband, loving father and a great friend.
During his professional career, he accomplished many things that need to be highlighted. He was the president of Lambda Chi Fraternity at IU and Phi Chi professional fraternity, former chairman of the Indiana State Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics, one of the founding doctors of Community Hospital, first director of medical education for Community Hospital, established the Family Medicine Residency at Community Hospital and founded Community Hospitals Association of Retired Physicians.
Other accomplishments include serving as: assistant professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine, director of Marion County Medical Society and alternate director of Indiana State Medical Association and team physician at Scecina, Arlington and Indian Creek high schools over the years. He was the 1995 Indiana Tree Farmer of the Year and won the Charles Deam Forestry Stewardship Award, and in 1991 he was inducted into the Community Hospital Fellowship of Distinguished Physicians.
George enjoyed spending time with family, farming, raising cattle and forestry.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Dotty; sister, Esther Laham of Indianapolis; children, George “Geep” (Sue) Parker of Los Angeles, California, Thom Parker of Elk City, Idaho, John (Carol) Parker of Indianapolis, Ted (Patty) Parker and Chris (Susan) Parker both, of Morgantown, Dr. Michael (Jane) Parker of Indianapolis, Jane (Greg) Smith of Bloomington and David (Beth) Parker of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; grandchildren, Dr. Bryn Parker (Eric Hake), Caitlin, Kaleb, Eli, Daniel and Lara Parker, Daniel (Katie) Beasley, Clare and Seth Parker, Julia, Georgia, Josh and Anya Smith, Christian, Jackson, Harrison and Nathan Parker; and great-grandchild, Ellie Rose Parker Hake.
George was preceded in death by a son, Daniel F. Parker; and siblings, Dr. John Parker and Edna Kamees.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Michael Barron of Indiana Heart Physicians for his kind and compassionate care. They also wish to thank everyone at St. Francis Hospice, especially our Dad’s nurse, Candace. She is not only an outstanding nurse, but a wonderful, caring person who became a trusted friend.
The family would also like to thank the staff and caregivers of Morning Pointe of Franklin. The family appreciates your kindness and care.
Father Eric Augenstein will conduct a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1008 McLary Road in Nashville. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Meredith – Clark Funeral Home, 179 E. Mulberry St. in Morgantown. Burial with military rites will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Indianapolis.
Memorial Contributions can be sent in honor of George to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Condolences to the Parker family can be made at meredith-clark.com.
Information: 812-597-4670.
