Kodell Parker

Kodell Parker, age 87, passed away Friday September 21, 2018 in Athens. He was a long-term resident of the Chandler and Mabank communities. Kodell was born near Nacogdoches on October 17, 1930 as the 14th child of Kinchen and Aurelia Neel Parker.

Kodell attended and graduated from Cushing, Texas High School in 1949. After a few weeks of college, Kodell decided it was time to enlist in the Navy. He soon found himself stationed at Pearl Harbor but the beaches of Hawaii did last long. Kodell spent the majority of his 8 year Navy career stationed out of Guam with Service Division 51 transporting troops to the Korean arena. He left the Navy after attending military law school in Newport, R.I.

Kodell had a wanderlust and love for adventure. After military service, Kodell went on to obtain his FCC and Master Electrician license. He worked on the first solid state microwave in the U.S. It wasn’t long after this project, that Kodell moved is young family to Alaska where he worked for British Petroleum on the Northern Slope also known as Dead Horse Alaska. Kodell retired to his beloved East Texas and went on write a book and have many traveling adventures with his beloved wife Wanda.

Kodell was a devout Southern Baptist and student of the bible. Throughout his life he regularly attended seminary classes; taught bible study and worked with organizations such as the Christian Builders Association, Baptist Men, and assisting in building individual churches and facilities associated with Christian Ministries.

He is survived by his wife Wanda; his daughter Teresa Swofford of Brownsboro; his son Timothy Parker of Gilmer; Renee Pool of Houston; his sister Dorothy Parker Hurta of Tyler; 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren as well as other loving family members and many more friends.

Kodell is proceeded in death by 13 of his 14 siblings and by his first wife and mother of his children Emma Thomas Parker. His sibling in descending birth order are: Reverend Ovie (O.V.) Parker Willard, Arnold Angus Parker, Ivy Inez Parker, Ross Parker, Mildred Parker Crippen, Verna Parle Parker Furra, Coy Parker, Buford Ray Parker, Rutha Irma Parker Rogers (twin), Retha Erma Parker Spoonmore (twin), James Ivey Parker, Estleen Parker Ayres, and William Ossed Parker.

PALLBEARERS

Bobby Higgins, Pallbearer
Ted Ayers, Pallbearer
Johhny Crippen, Pallbearer
Marty Rogers, Pallbearer
Jimmy Rogers, Pallbearer
Breanna Thomas, Pallbearer

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