Sam Parker

Sam Brown Parker was born February 20, 1933 in Waynesville, NC to the late Agnes Irene Brown Parker and Fred Brooks Parker.

He spent his childhood and youth in the Asheville/Enka/Candler are of NC, an area he loved. He was a graduate of Sand Hill Elementary and High School where he was co-salutatorian. He graduated Asheville-Biltmore Junior College (now UNC-Asheville) and North Carolina State University with a BS degree in mechanical engineering. His professional career of 42 years, was with General Motors, beginning at Allison Division, Speedway, IN and continuing at Delco Remy in Anderson, IN. At retirement he was a Senior Project Engineer. Past retirement he was employed as a consultant at Rapid Design in Anderson. He belonged to the professional organization, Society of Automotive Engineers, where he served on as chair of a standard setting committee. He earned 3 patents for his work in engineering.

Sam enjoyed traveling, both for business and pleasure. He had visited 50 states, much of Europe, Japan and Korea. He enjoyed southern gospel, NASCAR, Indy car racing, golf, visiting Biltmore House, and vegetable gardening, where he produced prized tomatoes.

Sam was an active long-term member of New Horizons UMC in Anderson, IN. He participated in several community activities, including the Central Indiana Old Car Club, Little League, Boy Scouts of America, Community Concert Assoc., and the Alumni Assoc. of NC State University. His greatest enjoyment was in visiting with his family and friends. He was known as devoted and loyal. His current church membership is Bogers Chapel UMC at Concord, NC.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Mary Jo Brown Parker; two sons and daughters-in-laws, Joseph Marshall and Karen Baker Parker and Alan Frederick and Susan Deaton Parker; four grandsons, Evan Samuel, Ryan James, Levi Joseph and Max Alan Parker; one granddaughter, Quinn Allison Parker, brother and sister-in-law, Jerry Marshall and Irene Morgan Brown, all of Concord; nieces and nephews, Tonya Gentry Brand and Tia Gentry Anglin of Georgia, Jessica GentryDyer of Asheville, Scott Brown, Brendon Brown, Jennifer Brown Farr of Concord and members of his extended family and friends.

In addition to his parents, Sam was preceded in death by his only sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn Parker and Ralph Gentry; his step-mother Frances Bates Parker; Karen Parkers daughter, Lindsay Cooper; and several beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Memorial contributions will be gratefully appreciated at Bogers Chapel UMC, 1775 Flowes Store Road East, Concord, NC 28025 or New Horizon UMC, 611 East 53rd Street, Anderson, IN 46013.

A Private Family Graveside Service will be held at Carolina Memorial Park Kannapolis in Concord on August 14, 2018 at 10:30am.

A special thanks to the caregivers at St. Andrews Assisted Living Center.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Parker family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com.