WILMINGTON — Robert (Bob) Spencer Parker, 71, passed away peacefully on Feb. 6, 2022, surrounded by his family.
Bob was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend who served those around him, both professionally and personally, with distinguished loyalty.
Born on Sept. 14, 1950, in Hertford County, Bob carried his Northeastern North Carolina accent with him everywhere and took pride in his roots. He moved from Severn to Murfreesboro in his senior year of high school where he met his future wife Mary Beth Pruette.
After graduating from East Carolina University, Bob went on to receive his master’s degree in public health from ECU and served as public health director in Bertie and Northampton counties before moving his young family to Wilmington in 1983 to become the New Hanover County Public Health Director. He spent the next 14 years improving the well-being of the Wilmington community through progressive and successful public health programming.
In 1997, Bob was named vice president of support services at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, where he led significant contributions to home and community-based care on both the state and local level for 13 years.
While his professional accolades and community involvement span more than 30 years, and his leadership will be treasured by all those who knew him, his most important contribution to his life on Earth was his family. Because of Bob, the Parkers will all say that they know how to live life right — to be humble, appreciative, gracious, and kind.
His presence will be deeply missed by his wife of 49 years. Mary Beth and Bob have been together since they were teenagers, and their love was an inspiration to all who knew them.
Bob will be celebrated by those who survive him, including Mary Beth Parker, Anne and Rhett Butler, Spencer and Claire Parker, Austin Parker and granddaughters Cecilia and Virginia Parker. In addition, he is survived by his brother Bill Parker, wife Mona, and nephew Trey Parker.
Please join the family for a memorial service at First Baptist Church of Wilmington, 411 Market Street, on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2 pm, followed by a reception at The Harrelson Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Baptist Church of Wilmington, NC, the Parker Merit Scholarship at ECU. Gifts can be mailed to the Office of Gift Records, East Carolina University, 2200 S. Charles Blvd., Suite 2213, Greenville, NC 27858, or a charity of your choice.
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