Thursday, February 13, 2025

McIvor Lemuel Parker Jr., 90, of Williamsburg

McIvor Lemuel Parker Jr. (Nelsen Funeral Home)

McIvor (Mac) L. Parker, Jr. was born on March 11, 1934 in Portsmouth, VA to McIvor L. Parker, Sr. and Katheryn T. Parker. Mac passed away peacefully on January 20, 2025. He resided at Patriots Colony at Williamsburg, Va. He was predeceased by his wife, Betty Jo Parker.

Mac lived in the Park View section of Portsmouth, Va until December 1940 when his father began work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Marietta, Ga. After the start of World War II, his father was transferred in early 1942 to the Washington, DC headquarters of the FCC. In the summer of 1942, the family took up residence in the Westover section of Arlington, Va. Mac attended school in Arlington and graduated from Washington-Lee High School in June 1952.

Mac entered the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in September 1952 as a member of the Cadet Corp’s Army Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) majoring in Electrical Engineering. In June 1956, Mac graduated with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering and a commission as an Army 2nd Lieutenant. Pending a call to active duty, Mac was employed by MELPAR, an engineering company in Falls Church, Va. In January 1957, Mac was called to two years of active duty service in the Army Ordnance Corps. After training at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Mac was assigned to duty with the 3rd Armored Division’s Combat Command B in Germany. Mac separated from active duty as a 1st Lieutenant in December 1958 and placed in the Army’s inactive reserves until discharged in 1962. Mac returned to work at MELPAR as a Research and Development (R&D) engineer. In 1966, Mac went to work as a civilian R&D Manager in the Navy Department’s Naval Electronic Systems Command (NAVELEX). Mac retired in 1992 after 25 years devoted to establishing ship and shore communication R&D projects at Naval and industrial organizations.

In August 1962, Mac married Betty Jo Hale from Princeton, WV. They first met in 1956 when Mac was a senior at VPI. They renewed contact in 1961. They lived in Falls Church, Va before moving to West Springfield, Va in 1966. Over the years, Betty Jo and Mac enjoyed vacations in many parts of the U.S., including relaxing visits to Williamsburg, Va. In 1996, they permanently moved to Williamsburg after building a home in the Ford’s Colony community. Mac took up golf and joined the Senior Golf Association at the Colonial Williamsburg Golden Horseshoe Golf Course. Betty Jo was an active member of the Williamsburg Woman’s Club. They met and became good friends with many people in these organizations, as well as the residents of Ford’s Colony. Betty Jo, the love of his life, passed away in 2018 after 56 years of loving companionship.

Mac decided it was time to abandon the responsibilities of home ownership and moved into the Continuing Care Community of Patriot’s Colony in May of 2019. Mac lived there as an Independent Living resident until 2021, when he was transferred to the Convalescent Center until his passing.

Betty Jo and Mac left their estate to the following charities, and in lieu of flowers, would ask that you choose one to support: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia Tech Foundation of Blacksburg, Va; Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc., Samaritan Program of Richmond, VA; The Salvation Army, a Georgia Corporation, For the Hometown Endowment Fund of Williamsburg, VA; Olde Towne Medical Center Endowment Fund of Williamsburg, VA; Hospice House and Support Care of Williamsburg Endowment Fund; Greenview United Methodist Church of Bluefield, WV.

To my surrogate daughter, Kim Griffiths, thank you for the love, care, compassion and friendship you selflessly gave me and Betty Jo throughout the years. Thank you for being there for me after I lost Betty Jo. I especially want to thank you for faithfully visiting with me and advocating for me so fervently during my stay at Patriot’s Colony. Kim, even though my vacation has transitioned to an eternity with Betty Jo, I want you to know that … I’m OK. Until next time, my friend.

There will be no visitation. The graveside service will occur in Williamsburg Memorial Park at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

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