Stanley C. Parker

Stan Parker, age 65, passed away September 15, 2024, at home.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco, Texas, with Rev. William Sterling officiating. Interment will follow at Stanford Chapel Cemetery in Lorena, Texas. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, September 20, 2024, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.

Stan was born in Waco, Texas, April 28, 1959, and graduated from Richfield High School in 1978. He married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Valerie Prewett, on August 16, 1980. Stan was an entrepreneur – an Electrical Contractor, Restaurant Owner, Caterer – but his heart was in philanthropy and helping others. The Stan C. Parker Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was formed in 2017 with a mission to assist those in need through a culture of advocacy, support, charity, and education, with a focus on US Veterans. From an annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon where hundreds of Veterans have been provided with a free BBQ meal and an inspirational program, to building ramps and being an advocate to help Veterans connect with the benefits they earned, Stan always helped those in need whenever they called. The Foundation has worked with the McLennan County Veterans Association to host the annual Waco Veterans Day Parade. One of Stan’s favorite projects was Freedom’s Path Waco, a Veterans Housing Project for homeless Vets. The groundbreaking for the project took place in July of 2024 with a projected completion date of October 2025.

Stan’s love for helping people brought his never-ending zeal to Freemasonry. He was raised as a Master Mason in 2009 at Carolina Lodge No. 330, becoming Worshipful Master there in 2010, and again at White Rock Lodge No. 337 in 2015. He was appointed District Deputy Grand Master for District 45 in 2013. Stan was honored to be appointed Grand Pursuivant, a Grand Lodge Officer, in 2024. He held the highest honors in both York and Scottish Rites, including the Cornerstone Award in 2016 and the Honorable 33rd degree in 2023, as well as serving in many other Appendant Bodies. As if that were not enough, Stan joined Rotary Club in 2024 and was looking forward to being active in that organization.

In his “spare time”, Stan was an outdoorsman, a hunter, a gun enthusiast, a BBQ Man and an amateur archeologist. He loved target shooting and had recently begun restoring a Korean War era Dodge M37 truck and a 1967 Jeep Kaiser M715.

Stan was preceded in death by his father, Bobby Earl Parker; and his grandparents, Lucy and Doc Donaldson, and Lillie Bell and AC Parker.

He is survived by his mother, Alline Parker; his sister, Kaye Meredith; his wife of forty-four years, Valerie Parker; his son, Austin Parker; daughter Jessica Smith and son-in-law, Erik Smith; and two grandchildren, Parker Smith and Vivian Smith, along with many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Austin Parker, Erik Smith, Glenn Prewett, Doug Fitzjarrell, Troy Parker, Mike Waldrop, Raymond Harper, and Ed Brown.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stan C. Parker Foundation via Venmo at @StanCParkerFoundation to continue Stan’s work.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on Stan’s “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com .