Individual Details

Ralph Almeran Parker

(7 Jan 1861 - 13 Oct 1918)

Events

Birth	7 Jan 1861	Greene, Androscoggin, Maine
Marriage		Marietta R. Merrill
Occupation		medical doctor
Death	13 Oct 1918	acute dilation of heart due to angina pectoris - Greene, Androscoggin, Maine
Obituary	14 Oct 1918	Lewiston Evening Journal - Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine
Burial	16 Oct 1918	Valley Cemetery, Greene, Androscoggin, Maine

Families

Spouse	Marietta R. Merrill (1865 - 1935)
Child	Infant Parker (1897 - 1897)
Child	Miles Robinson Parker (1900 - 1937)

Father	Almeran Bodge Parker (1836 - 1924)
Mother	Eliza Ann Howe (1837 - 1925)
Sibling	Jacob Lewis Parker (1866 - 1958)
Sibling	Horatio Perkins Parker (1872 - 1949)
Sibling	Edith Stone Parker (1874 - )

Notes

Obituary

GREENE, Oct. 14. (Special) The sudden death of Dr. Ralph A. Parker, a prominent physician here, occurred at his home on the Lewiston road Saturday evening. This news has come as a great shock to the community, who knew and liked him well ever since he grew up as a boy here many years ago; and is a very severe shock to Mrs. Parker, all the more tragic because this week they had intended to move into their new home - a modern bungalow which he had just completed. Ralph Almeron Parker was born Jan. 7, 1861, son of Almeron Bodge and Eliza Ann (Howe) Parker, a pioneer family here, living in the beautiful old tavern a town landmark - under spreading elms on the main highway between Greene and Lewiston. This historic house was burned last February, catching fire from some unknown cause in the winter days. It was in this town he attended school, during his boyhood. Here he learned principles of successful farming to which he turned back again in late years on his return to the old home place to care for his aging parents. His Early Work. It was his privilege to attend Bates college, where he received the training and profited by the associations which made him well-equipped to enter the teaching profession. He embodied the spirit and ideals of Bates, in a clean life, honorable manhood, thoughtful citizenship, and kindly and helpful character essentially Christian. He was graduated from this Lewiston college in the class of 1888, one of thirty students finishing the four years' course, most of whom became teachers. For twelve years Dr. Parker pursued his teaching, holding positions of prominence thruout the State. He was principal of the academy at West Lebanon for the year following his graduation from Bates. He then taught at the Hanover, N. H., high school, at East Corinth academy in Maine, and then went to the Westbrook high for a period of six years. In 1897 he went to South Portland for three years' service either as principal or superintendent. Ambition to be Physician. All thru this period of teaching, Dr. Parker nurtured a persistent hope that he might some day enter the medical profession. It had a strong appeal for him, because of his great human sympathy and his sense of community service. He believed this a great field of work. He loved it; and to the end he was utterly sincere and honest in the interpretation and application of its principles to the needs of his fellow-men. He never lost his vision of promoting the personal welfare and well-being of his patients, even at the cost, sometimes, of certain idols of the profession. He was never hide-bound nor hamstrung by formulas. He was supremely honest with himself and to his patients. Those who appreciated this quality in him in particular felt that he set a standard unusually high in his line of work. He never thought of self, and even sacrificed his own interests in unusual ways, because of his keen sense of principle and his uncompromising allegiance to truth. Dr. Parker's medical training was received at Bowdoin college, and he received his coveted degree of "M. D." from the Maine Medical school in 1904. Fresh from these studies, taken up in his mature manhood, he came to Auburn to make his home. His office was at his residence at the corner of Turner street and the River road, where he lived from 1905 until about three years ago. There he conducted his medical practice, making many friends here. He took keen interest in the county medical association work, belonged to the county and Maine Medical societies, served on the staff of the Central Maine General hospital in Lewiston, and established himself in a good practice here. He became recognized for his conscientious work, his great human sympathy and his absolute integrity and honor. He was respected by all. His Stay in Auburn. During his stay in Auburn, Dr. Parker was identified with the Court Street Baptist church, where he and Dr. Fred M. Preble, pastor, became staunch friends. Both were collegemen and shared many high ideals in common. Here in Auburn, too, Mrs. Parker became very well-known and very much liked. She became a leader especially in club circles and was quickly recognized for her literary taste, her talent as a public reader and teacher of voice expression, and for graces of character which have endeared her to many friends here. Removed to Greene. It was a matter of keenest regret when, a few years ago, it was announced that Dr. and Mrs. Parker had decided to remove to Greene. This change came about because Dr. Parker's parents were too far along in years to carry on the big farm at the old homestead. It was a generous sacrifice on the part of both. It was a deeply regretted loss to Lewiston and Auburn people. Dr. Parker was able to continue his medical practice in these cities and take up new work in Greene, along with the care of the farm. So affairs were progressing, when the fire came which destroyed the old tavern, sent the aged parents to New York to live with another son, laid upon Dr. Parker the care of planning and building a new home on the old farm. For it was there they had decided to spend the remainder of their days. A spring of unusual merit, the Glenwood, whose name is known far and wide thru this part of the State, had been a paying proposition for years, even with the elder Mr. Parker conducted the spring-water business in Lewiston and Auburn two and three decades ago. This businss Dr. Parker began to push, when he came back to the home place, and he was ably assisted in this line of work by his only son, Miles Parker, whose face is familiar on the city streets here day by day as he carries on this of business. The sad coincidence of his sudden death just when he and his wife were to enter their new home, touches the heart of all their friencs, and a very profound sympathy goes out to Mrs. Parker in this hour, as well as to the son - their only child - and to other members of the family. There survive, besides the wife and son, the aged parents, who are in New York visiting; two brothers, Jacob L. Parker of Painelous, Texas, and Horatio M. Parker of Brooklyn, N. Y.; and one sister, Mrs. George Herbert Johnson of New Milford, Ct. Dr. Parker was a member of Rabboni Lodgee, 150 A. F. and A. M. of Lewiston, and of Androscoggin grange No. 8, of Greene.

Individual Details

Ralph Almeran Parker

Events

Families

Notes

Obituary

Endnotes