John Franklin Parker, age 84 of Malvern, died Tuesday, November 04, 2008, in the National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs. He was born on January 21, 1924 in Hot Spring County to the late Clarence and Lillie Evans Parker. Reared and educated in Hot Spring County, he served in the United States Army during World War II, and saw action in the South Pacific. Mr. Parker was a Missionary Baptist. During his working life, he had been employed by Dresser Industries as a welder, by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Park Service, from which he retired in 1989.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Bailey Parker of Malvern, to whom he was married on June 26, 1982; two daughters, Fran Parker of Jacksonville, Arkansas, and Monica Parker Roberts of Malvern; one step-daughter, Cindy Smith Jones and her husband David, of Germantown, Tennessee; one step-son, Carey Smith and his wife Andi of Little Rock; six grandchildren, Miranda Buchanan, Bryan Horne, Casey Patterson, John Mikel Parker, Jessica Roberts, and Star Parker; three step-grandchildren, Wesley and Bailey Jones, and Emery Claire Smith; three great-granddaughters, Taylor, Macy, and Mackenzy Horne; two sisters, Betty Howell of Stephens, and Patricia Claxton and her husband Mike of Little Rock. Mr. Parker was also preceded in death by a daughter, Jan Parker, by two sisters, Marie Davis and Nina Holcomb, and by a brother, Donald Parker.

His funeral will be held at ten o'clock Friday morning, November 7, 2008 in the chapel of J.A. Funk Funeral Home with Brother Rickey Poyner officiating.

Interment will follow in Ouachita Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Mike Claxton, David Jones, Gene Davis, B. J. Horne, Larry Howell, Joe Howell, Rick Howell, and Wayne Holcomb.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday evening from six until eight o'clock. Online condolences may be sent via J.A.Funk Funeral Home.