Charles Marvin Parker

Published 5:44 pm Thursday, September 1, 2022

Charles Marvin Parker died peacefully on Aug. 29, 2022, in Roland Park, Maryland.

He was born in LaGrange, Georgia on Mar. 29, 1938 to Charlie W. Parker and Marion Parker (née Hart).

He married Sue Marion Williams in LaGrange on Dec.20, 1958 and they had two children, Glenn P. Parker and Allison Parker-Abromitis.

In his early years Charlie was a musician, playing the trombone and was a part of the all district band. He was his high school drum major and voted most talented in his senior year.

Charlie attended Davidson College in North Carolina on an ROTC scholarship and received a B.A. in English.

Charlie was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army in 1962 and served in military intelligence and counterintelligence for almost 40 years.  He had tours of duty in South Korea and Vietnam, and was later stationed with his family in Tokyo, Japan and Nürnberg, Germany, before settling in Northern Virginia. 

In 1979, he earned a Master of Arts in Government from Georgetown while serving in the military.

Charlie was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, among others.

After retiring from civilian life, he trained to be a docent at the Library of Congress. As a student of history, it was a job he loved, but illness soon made it impossible for him to continue.

Charlie is survived by his children Allison and Glenn, Glenn’s wife, Faith, and by his granddaughter, Mariliza K. Parker. 

Charlie was predeceased by his wife, Sue, on July 29, 2022.

A celebration of life for Charlie and Sue will be held in Oct.

In lieu of flowers, his family suggests a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).