Captain“ Hal” Parker, died at his home June 1,2009 one month before his 95th Birthday. Though failing in health the past few months he remained alert to the end. He was a peaceful and happy man, accepting life as it came, truly without worry or stress. He quietly loved his family and friends, and is remembered as a good man.  His intelligence and practical advice was a gift to us all. He remains to us, a symbol of our heritage and what is right in the world. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A native of Porterville CA Harold was born July 3 1914 to Ernest Ray Parker and Bertha Mary Lueck Parker.  He attended  Porterville Schools graduating Porterville High School 1932 and Porterville Community College 1934 after which he joined the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corp.  In 1935 he became joint owner of a local gas station. In 1936 he was employed by the US Postal Service. and had the honor of issuing the first Social Security Numbers for California. 

In 1940 Hal became a Private Pilot for a local businessman.  He began his Life’s Career when he learned Pan American World Airways needed Pilots.  His Porterville High School pal and close friend, Floyd Penning, had become a Pan AM Radio Operator and told Hal of the opening.   Hal furthered his requirements in Las Vegas NV earning his Commercial and Flight Instructor Certificates.  In Las Vegas in those days if a slot Machine paid $.35 it was enough to buy lunch . He joined Pan American at Treasure Island, San Francisco in August 1942 thus launching  a career which ultimately became and important era in Aviation History.

The first airplane Hal flew for Pan American was the now infamous Flying Boat, “Honolulu Clipper” NC18601.  On loan to the Navy  he flew to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and throughout the entire South Pacific for the duration of WWII.  

 At the end of the war the Flying Boats were phased out and in 1945 Harold transferred to Miami Florida flying the Douglas DC-3 and subsequent land planes the company put in service.  There he flew to the Caribbean, Central and South America until 1952. He transferred back to San Francisco and took part in the Korean War Airlift to Tokyo and Pan Am’s civil aviation routes to Hong Kong, Manilla, Singapore ,Tokyo.  Over the years he had Charles Lindbergh and other dignitaries on many of his flights.

1955 Hal transferred to New York where he flew Troops in Africa,  Monkeys to New York,  Pink Rhinoceros to Africa, Snakes and Reptiles to Florida,  Horses to the States  and many people everywhere. When Boeing introduced the Jet engines Hal accumulated over 7,000 hours flying the B707 and B720.  In a ‘talk’ he gave he said “the Jet is one hell of a lot of fun to fly but they sure worked hard to spoil it.”  Later in his speech he commented “ The Turbojet Captain is a professional worker. His union contract his bible.  The complexity of his job is inversely proportional to his freedom of action­­­­­­--- WHY he flies is no mystery. He IS the WORLD’S HIGHEST SALARIED WORKER.”

As Senior Captain Hal remained flying the B707 to Europe and the Middle East and  to Japan and the Far East. At his retirement he had flown to all six continents during his thirty two (32) years with Pan American Airlines.

Being a lover of History Captain Parker flew with a National Geographic Map of the areas on his lap and like so many of his contemporaries  never could figure why he was  paid for “having so much fun and still call it ‘work’ ”.   Being a pilot in the early days of Aviation and Exploration was exhilarating to say the least.

When Captain Parker transferred to New York in 1955 he settled his family at Lake Mohawk, Sparta New Jersey and immediately took an active role in the community. He became Chairman of the Citizens Committee for Better Schools—a committee set up to coordinate the aims and curriculum of the New Sparta High School. He was also President of the Official Board of the Methodist Church, a member of the PAC and the Jetport Committee.

In 1968, after serving nine (9) years on the Sparta School Board, Captain Parker announced he would not seek re-election. This decision was a great disappointment to his many friends who had learned to expect knowledgeable representation from Hal.   While on the school board he helped set up the financial structure of the yearly budget and streamlined the monthly budget  presentation. Most gratifying personally however,  was his contribution to the Goals Committee.  This committee consisted of teachers and interested citizens concerned with the welfare and betterment of the Sparta school system

Captain Hal and wife Grace (deceased 1974) were enthusiastic golfers and belonged to the Lake Mohawk Golf Club.  They had two (2) daughters who graduated from Sparta High School with honors.   At that time their daughter Kathleen was a Junior at Duke University and daughter Linda was enjoying her first year of teaching in the Millville, NJ school system.

Harold is survived by his wife Barbara, Sequim, WA, Daughter Wendy P Cooper (husband Peter) Grandchildren, Madison and Tucker Cooper, Snohomish WA, Daughter Sharon L Jones (husband Tom) Bend OR and Son-in-law Richard Kessler (husband of the late Kathleen Parker Kessler),Atlanta GA, Granddaughter Grace E Kessler, San Francisco CA

At his request there was no formal service.  On July 3 2009, his family and many friends gathered at their home in Sequim to celebrate his 95th Birthday with a Celebration of Life. A Poster Board of early photographs and a Slide Show Presentation ran continuously on a Laptop computer depicting his family and career.

As daylight faded a formation of six (6) aircraft performed the Missing Man Fly Over in Hal’s Honor.  There was hardly a dry eye when the Missing Man flew toward Heaven.  We know Captain Hal saw this tribute to him and would be very proud..  To have had such an opportunity in forming Aviation History was a source of great pride to him. Many of his peers have passed before him but never forgotten by him.

The friendships formed in those early days of their careers have remained throughout the ensuing years.

There is a quote by George Washington, our first President that Hal firmly believed in. He adhered to those words throughout his flying career  and  during the times serving the Community on the various Committees and Boards. It is as follows:

“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.”

Those wishing to remember Hal can contribute to a Charity of their choice
OR Contributions can be made in memory of Captain Harold L Parker to the Emory University School of Law for the benefit of the Kessler/Eidson Endowment Scholarship Fund

This fund was established in memory of Kathleen  Parker Kessler, a lawyer and graduate of Emory University School of Law in Atlanta  who was killed in the ValuJet Flt. #592 airline crash in the Florida  Everglades on May 11,1996), Checks can be made payable to Emory University School of Law with reference to the Kessler / Eidson Endowment Scholarship Fund. Emory University School of Law,  1300 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329

THE MISSING MAN WILL FOREVER BE MISSED

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