George was born on January 23, 1932, the son of Luther James “Buddy” Parker, Jr., and Bernice Dickerson Parker of Lake Charles. He graduated from Lake Charles High School and Louisiana State University. He was a member of the Naval Reserve and attended Naval Officer Candidate School; in 1954 he married Jeanette Plauché, his high school sweetheart, whom he had known since childhood.

The Parker family moved to Lafayette in 1957; George worked in the oil industry for one year, after which he entered the real estate business. In 1959 he started his own company, which he later devoted exclusively to the appraisal of real estate. In 1992 he earned the MAI designation and was widely known for the quality of his work and the high ethical standards that it represented, as well as for his outgoing personality and wonderful sense of humor.

George was a member of the Lafayette Board of Realtors; he served as its Treasurer and President and received the Realtor of the Year award in 1966. He was a charter member of the Lafayette Sertoma Club and later joined the Lafayette Rotary Club, to which he belonged for 50 years. He was an active Rotarian, participating in many of the organization’s service activities, and was a Paul Harris Fellow. In his younger days, he enjoyed participating in Mardi Gras festivities, and in 1967 he was King Richard Coeur de Lion at the famous Lafayette Town House Ball. He enjoyed photographing family and nature, working in his yard, traveling with his wife, and visiting with his beloved family. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension and served in several ministries of the Church, including the Vestry.

George is survived by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Jeanette Plauché Parker; three sons: James Stephen Parker of Lafayette; Robert William Parker and his wife Tracey of Frisco, Texas; and George Thomas Parker and his wife Christine of Lafayette; five grandchildren, Alec Parker of Tacoma, Washington; Kyle Parker of Frisco, Texas; and Jordan, Annie, and Erin Parker of Lafayette; and a brother-in-law, Ray Eddy of Arizona City, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, and his sister, Elizabeth Mae Parker Eddy.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Larry Baker, Dan Bouligny, Joe Bouligny, Robert Francez, Mark Hamilton, and Dr. Dick Williams.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Ascension or Ascension Episcopal School, 1030 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70501, or the UL Lafayette Foundation, P. O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504-4290.

Visitation will be held at Martin and Castille Funeral Home (Downtown) from 5:00-8:00 PM on Monday, August 4.

A service of Christian Burial will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 1030 Johnston Street, on Tuesday, August 5, at 2:00PM, with interment of ashes following in the Ascension Church columbarium.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com

Please click here for a photo of George and his 1952 SLI Track & Field teammates.