By Staff
Charles Earl Parker, 83, departed this life to join Ruth, his beloved wife of 50 years on May 22, 2008, in Tallmadge, Ohio.
Services will be held at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, on Wednesday, May 28, at 10 a.m. followed by burial with full military honors at Sumnerville Cemetery, Pokagon.
Friends may call at the funeral home, on Tuesday, May 27, from 6 to 8 p.m.
He was born on June 2, 1924, in Niles and graduated form Niles High School.
He served in France and Germany in World War II as a combat engineer and attended school in Biarritz, France, after the war.
He graduated from Benjamin Franklin University in Washington, D.C. with a degree in accounting.
On July 26, 1947, he married Ruth Perry in Uniontown, P.A.. They made their home in Parchment for many years and later lived in Brier Hill, Pa., before moving to St. Pete Beach, Fla., where he was a real estate broker for 20 years.
After Ruth's passing in 1998, he lived with his daughters in Tallmadge, Ohio and East Wareham, Mass.
He was an avid runner and loved music. In his final years, he shared his love of music at Gateway Adult Center and Summit Villa Care Center. He was a charter member of the Swansea Supper Clubbers.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; their infant daughter, Karen; his parents, Charles and Della Hood Parker; brothers, Murray, Bill and Harry and a sister, Violet Crawford.
Surviving family includes daughters, Susan (Bill) Meertz of Tallmadge, Ohio, Becky (Ed) Dobbs of East Wareham, Mass., Ruthie (Jim) Sarvadi of Denver, Colo., Cherie (Matt) Matteson of Jenison and Jeanne (Denny) Goin of Bucyrus, Ohio.
He was a loving grandfather to Carolyn (John) Bentley, Andrea (Mike) Louie, Michael Mertz and Cody Meertz of Ohio, Dan (Jane Sohn) Dobbs of Maryland, Dave (Alexis Rustigian) Dobbs of Rhode Island, Stefani (Lou) Sullivan of Colorado, Kendra (Darren Stroupe) Sarvadi of North Carolina, Kellie Matteson of California, Laura Matteson of New York, Katie Matteson of Michigan, Jacob Goin of Ohio and Jim (Jessica) Goin of Pennsylvania and proud great-grandfather of Liliana Sullivan of Colorado. He was the beloved uncle of many nieces and nephews.
He also leaves a sister, Juanita Farmer.
Memorial contributions may be made to the animal rescue organization of your choice.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.