Riley H. Parker

Riley H. Parker, age 92 of Oxford, passed away at his daughter’s home on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 6:35 PM. He was attended by his family and friends. He was born in Manchester, KY on February 10, 1923 to Robert and Nellie (Owens) Parker. Riley was saved at the age of 22 and was called into the ministry around the age of 29. He was an evangelist until he decided to leave Clay County in 1961 to help build and pastor the Oxford Pentecostal Church. Having stayed there a short time, he became the pastor of the Somerville Pentecostal Church in August, 1964 and served as pastor for nearly 51 years at the time of his death. During his work in the ministry, he supported himself and his family with a coal trucking business and later as a siding and window contractor and was well known in Oxford and the surrounding area. He retired from the business at the age of 80 and agreed to take a small offering once a month from his congregation that most usually went back into the church offering. Pastor Parker was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Lucy Katherine (Abner) Parker, two sons, Glenn Parker and Gaston (Brenda) Parker, a granddaughter, Tanya Michelle Parker, his parents, 5 brothers, and 3 sisters.

Pastor Parker is survived by two sons, Dillard (Minnie) Parker of Hamilton, Austin (Janet) Parker of Oxford, two daughters, Sue (Bill) Stapleton of Camden, Barbara (Noah) Woolum of Hamilton, 15 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 23 great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Brown Dawson Flick Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Avenue, on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 1PM with Bro. Albert Phillips officiating. Burial will follow at Millville Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 12, 2015 from 5PM-8PM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to the Somerville Pentecostal Church, Somerville, Ohio. Condolences can be made at www.browndawsonflick.com. A special thanks from the family to Dr. Rick Bucher, Dr. Lester Suna, and the Fairfield office of Oncology Hematology Care.