Hartford, VT – Edward Willis Parker, 89, died at the White River Jct. Veteran's Administration Medical Center on Wednesday July 21, 2021.

He was born March 24, 1932, in Brookfield, VT one of twelve children of Willis Edward and Glenna May (Kennett) Parker. He met Margaret Laber when he was a child of only nine years old and they were later married September 1, 1951, in Vershire. They lived briefly in Quechee before he served in the military from 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1955. After his service they settled in Hartford where they raised their family of six children. When the family home burned down, they rebuilt a home together next door.

Ed worked for many years in area woolen mills repairing looms and finished up as weave room supervisor. After the mills in the area closed, he turned his love of fishing into a business and opened Ed's Bait Shop from the basement of his house. He also worked doing mechanic work and installing concrete foundations for cemetery memorials in 123 different cemeteries around Vermont and New Hampshire, often with his wife by his side helping out.

Ed enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and trapping with his wife and children as well as trips to the casino to play the slots. In later years he enjoyed travelling with family, including trips to Alaska, Florida, and Las Vegas. He was also a talented woodworker and made furniture and boxes for family and friends.

He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret on March 13 ^th of this year as well as an infant daughter, Susan; two brothers, Clayton and Paul Parker and six sisters, Lottie Chubbuck, Doris Bjorkman, Marion Gilman, Ruth Brown, Phyllis Boles, and Nancy Potwin.

He leaves his children Edward (Susan) of Bradford, Stanley (Cathy) of Hartford, Julie Clark (Roger) of Enfield, Jane Stansbery (Bob) of Claremont, Ernest (Annette) of Norwich and Martin of Thetford; 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Evelyn Greene of Meredith, NH, Jean Flint of Albany, VT and Joyce Potwin of Sharon, VT as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

A visitation will be held Sunday July 25 ^th from 2-5 pm at Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct. A funeral service will be held Monday July 26 ^th at 1PM at the funeral home. A committal service for both Edward and Margaret will follow in the Christian Street Cemetery.

Condolences to Edward's family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com.