Barbara Heppenstall Parker
April 11, 1926 – April 4, 2013
Barbara Ann Parker passed away at home surrounded by her family, favorite books, and nature’s treasures. She was born on April 11, 1926 in the newly planned town of Longview, Washington where her parents, Thomas and Cecile (Coughlan) Heppenstall came west from Ontario, Canada in 1923. Barbara attended Kessler Grade School in Longview, and graduated from R.A. Long High School in 1944. After a freshman year at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana, Barbara joined her only sibling, Robert Heppenstall, a returning WWII veteran, at the University of Washington. She majored in literature and was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority.
In June of 1949, her dear friend and future mother-in-law, May (Parker) Browning, introduced her to the love of her life, David Parker. Overwhelmed by her striking beauty and her graceful manner, David proposed to her two weeks later and on July 15, 1950, they were married in Longview.
From 1961, they raised their eight children on Bainbridge Island with Barbara volunteering in their schools, supporting a strong Public School system through Parent-Teacher service. As a volunteer teacher’s assistant at Blakely Elementary School, she was inspired to return to the UW to finish a degree in English in 1978. She was pleased to win the competition naming the new elementary school after Elizabeth Ordway, an educator she admired.
Barbara loved her home on Ferncliff Avenue, and as a stay-at-home mother, she baked dozens of loaves of bread each week while still being an active citizen in her community. Besides volunteering at Helpline House and as a Water Watcher, she worked at the election polls, attended town hall meetings, and frequently wrote to her senators and congressmen about current issues.
After David’s retirement, the couple moved to Hansville, took daily walks, and delighted in travels. Barbara could pack a travel bag better than any seasoned flight attendant.
A frequent patron of the Kitsap Regional Library, Barbara loved books, wrote and read poetry—her favorites being Theodore Roethke’s works and Edwin Markham’s Anthology.
During the last six months of Barbara’s life, she faced her diagnosis, Multiple Myeloma, with incredible dignity and grace.
Barbara is survived by her husband, David Teague Parker, of Hansville and eight children, all residing in Washington State: Teague Parker (Susan) of Kingston; Cecilia Ann Parker (Howard) of Bainbridge Island; Mark Parker (Barbara) of Hansville; Katherine Parker of Poulsbo; Mary Parker-Hale (Jeffrey) of Lake Forest Park; Rebecca Lundin (Lloyd “Butch”) of Poulsbo; Eugenie Piper (Jack) of Ellensburg; and David Wykeham (Sherry) of Seattle.
Her ten grandchildren include Allison Porter (Arthur) of Roy, Washington; Evan Parker (Iveta) of the United States Army; Abbie Block of Bend, Oregon; Teague Block of Chelan, Washington; Zachary and Elizabeth Hale of Lake Forest Park, Washington; Anthony Parker of Bainbridge Island, Washington; Natasha Nethero (Brian) of Phoenix, Arizona and her brothers Jack and Brian Piper of Ellensburg, Washington. Great-grandchildren are Clayton, John David, Elaina, and Glorianna Porter.
Private services will be held at a later date. The family expresses their gratitude to Group Health Hospice for their compassionate and loving care. Remembrances may be made in Barbara’s honor to Group Health Foundation Hospice Fund.
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