James Willard Parker, 82, a resident of Afton, Virginia, passed away Wednesday morning, April 15, 2026, at English Meadows in Fishersville.

He was born September 13, 1943, in Washington, D.C., a son of the late Willard Chandler Parker and Lala (McNeely) Parker.

He earned his bachelor's degree in English from Wake Forest University.

While serving with the U.S. Navy, he performed duties as a Russian linguist aboard submarines and aircraft.

Mr. Parker later joined the Park Service in Virginia, and for about 15 years worked tirelessly in areas such as Humpback Rocks on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

He enjoyed following baseball, basketball, and football, especially the Redskins, Orioles, and Wake Forest.

As a longtime member of Hebron Baptist Church in Afton, he played a Wiseman for the live nativity town of Bethlehem at Christmas.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Jane Parker, and brother, Frank Parker.

Surviving are his loving wife of 53 years, Ella Sue Parker of Afton; son Jeremy Parker, his wife, Dara, and their sons, Stage, Jackson, and Liam, of Afton; son Nathan Parker, his wife, Deborah, and their children, Jasper and Lyra, of Tempe, Arizona; sisters-in-law Karen Garber of Fishersville and Ann Reinhard and her husband, Fred Kelsven, of Aiken, South Carolina; and brother-in-law, Donald Roy Kirk of Tampa, Florida.

The family would like to thank the staff at English Meadows for all their excellent care and support.

A memorial service will be held at McDow Funeral Home at 1:00pm on Saturday, April 25, 2026, officiated by Chaplain Wert. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service.