Mrs. Adrian Ruth Parker's Obituary
PARKER, ADRIAN RUTH JORDAN, 89, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother left us sweetly and gently on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 after a long and fulfilling life. Adrian was born in Denison, Texas on November 8, 1917 to Ara Adrian Jordan and Ulyss Jordan, but lived in Dallas throughout her life. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1935. It was then that she joined the famous Galloway Bible Class at East Dallas Christian Church and met future husband and love of her life, Felix Clayborn Parker. They married in 1943. Adrian worked for the telephone company as a comptometer operator until she married her newly commissioned lieutenant and left Dallas to join him in Kentucky. Daughter, Marilyn, was born in October of 1944 while her daddy was overseas. Son, Richard, was born in December of 1947 after Felix returned from the war. In 1957, Adrian and Felix opened the first of many dry cleaning plants. Together they developed a thriving family business which allowed them to follow Adrian’s dream to travel. Adrian always claimed that she caught the travel “bug” from her fifth grade geography teacher who helped her picture the places she studied. Adrian and Felix traveled by plane, ship, train, car, bus and horse cart to see as much of the world as they could. Adrian was a girl scout leader and a cub scout leader who took great-interest in her children’s lives. She never missed a concert, recital, ball game or track meet. She was loving and especially close to her only sister, Dorothy. They shared a unique bond. During the decade of the seventies Adrian worked side-by-side with Felix as he served the Texas Laundry and Dry Cleaners Association as Executive Director. Adrian was an active member of Lakeview Christian Church for over 50 years. She served as an elder and a Sunday school teacher. She also held many offices in the Christian Women’s Fellowship, including President. Compiling the CWF yearbook and desiging its cover were creative challenges she vigorously embraced. In her relationships with others, her generous heart was always open to listen and encourage. Adrian loved to laugh and talk and share. In 2001, Adrian realized that it was time to leave her East Dallas home of 50 years, so she and Felix moved to a retirement apartment where they lived for 3 wonderful years. In 2003, they moved to the Juliet Fowler Homes where Adrian passed away on Wednesday, June 20, 2007. She is survived by her loving husband, Felix C. Parker; sister, Dorothy Medlin and brother-in-law, Homer Medlin; daughter, Marilyn Parker Painter; son, Richard Parker; son-in-law, John Painter; daughter-in-law, Frances Roan Parker; 4 grandchildren, Seth and Cody Parker; Kristen and John Boone Painter; and 5 great-grandchildren, Curtis, Jackson, Alaina, Haley and Nathan Parker. Family will receive friends form 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, June 24, 2007 at Restland Funeral Home. Service will be held at 3:30 p.m., Monday, June 25, 2007 at Restland Wildwood Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1-800-272-3900, or 4144 N. Central Exwy, Suite 750, Dallas, TX 75204.
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