Individual Details

Karr Parker Jr.

(10 Aug 1920 - 3 Aug 1991)

Buffalo News, The (NY) - August 5, 1991

Deceased Name: KARR PARKER JR., BOARD CHAIRMAN OF BUFFALO GENERAL HOSPITAL, DIES

A memorial service for Karr Parker Jr., chairman of the board of Buffalo General Hospital and retired president of Buffalo Electric Co., will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, 128 Pearl St. Parker, 70, long active in the community, died Saturday (Aug. 3, 1991) in Buffalo General Hospital after a brief illness.He was also on the boards of the Buffalo Zoological Society, Elmwood Franklin School, the Western New York Foundation and the Vestry of St. Paul's Cathedral. He was elected chairman of the board of Buffalo General Hospital two months ago. A Buffalo native, Parker was a graduate of Nichols School and Hobart College and received a master of business administration degree from Harvard University Business School. He served in the European Theater during World War II and was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army when he was discharged in 1946.

The same year, he started work as an electrical apprentice for Buffalo Electric Co. at 75 W. Mohawk St. One of the largest electrical contracting companies in the state, it was founded just before the turn of the century. His father, Karr Parker Sr., was president. Parker became president in 1968 when his father became chairman of the board. He remained in that position until retiring six years ago. He was known in business for his succinctness and ability to get to the root of a problem. Parker was deeply interested in education and was a member of the Nichols School board of trustees for 17 years. Earlier this year, he received the Buffalo Zoo's 1991 Cecilia Evans Taylor Award for his "outstanding generosity of time, talent and commitment to the Buffalo Zoological Gardens." Parker enjoyed hunting and fishing, avocations he shared for many years with his father. Parker, who lived in Buffalo, was also an avid sailor. He was a member of the Youngstown Yacht Club, of which he was past commodore and a former board member. He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto. He was a member and past board member of the Buffalo Club and a skeet-shooting member of the Country Club of Buffalo. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, the former Margaret Graham; a daughter, Devon Parker Marlette; a son, David Karr Parker of Eggertsville; a sister, Marjorie Parker Lenk of Osterville, Mass., and five grandchildren.

Events

Birth10 Aug 1920Buffalo, Erie Co., New York
Marriage1946Margaret Graham
Death3 Aug 1991Buffalo, Erie Co., New York
BurialUnknown

Families

SpouseMargaret Graham ( - )
ChildDevon Parker ( - )
ChildDavid Karr Parker ( - )
FatherKarr Parker (1892 - 1986)
MotherEnid Marie Sympson (1892 - 1968)
SiblingMarjorie June Parker (1924 - 2000)

Endnotes