WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Last Sunday, our News 10 family lost a longtime friend and Central Texas lost a champion for many causes.
Stan Parker, the beloved husband of longtime KWTX employee Valerie Parker, passed away suddenly Sunday evening from a heart attack.
Stan was an integral part of many community events and willingly gave of his time and talents to anyone or anything in need.
Everyone loves a parade, and if you’ve ever been to the Waco Veterans Day Parade, you’ve seen Stan’s work.
Stan helped organize the parade and veterans’ issues were very close to his heart.
He founded the Stan C. Parker Foundation and hosts an annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon.
Stan also led the project to build housing for veterans on the Doris Miller VA campus.
“Stan was the kind of guy that once you met him, you didn’t forget him,” said former KWTX weather forecaster Rusty Garrett.
Rusty had been friends with Stan for 20 years and was his brother in Freemasonry, but he said Stan’s passion for supporting veterans was unparalleled.
“I think because his son served in the Marines, he saw that there was a huge need for veterans,” Rusty said, “We don’t pay enough attention to veterans, and I think Stan recognized that and went out of his way to do whatever he could for veterans.”
Stan found peace and purpose in the Scottish Rite Brotherhood, and he most recently reached the highest rank in the Scottish Rite, 33rd degree, earning his cherished white hat.
“Stan never met a stranger,” Rusty says. “He and I have known each other for a long time. He was one of my closest friends in the Masonic fraternity and was very active in every project he was involved in.”
Wes Waller is known as a great man with a big heart, who has helped raise thousands of dollars for those in need, despite struggling with his own health issues.
This past weekend, he and Stan led a charity drive for the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum.
It’s a memory Waller will cherish forever.
“It’s going to take a lot of people to replace him,” Waller said. “With all due respect, I’m going to keep Saturday night in my heart. You and I were there. Stan had as much fun as anyone there and we raised a ton of money for the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum. Stan was so excited about Lee Lockwood and the First Annual Lee Lockwood Appreciation Party. What a great turnout, what a great event, great to see Stan being the life of the party, but he’s the life of the party all over the place. I’m going to miss him so much. I’ll never forget that Saturday night with Stan Parker.”
And wherever Stan went, his beloved Valerie was nearby.
“Since they were in high school,” Rusty says, “It’s heartbreaking and emotional to think about what Valerie is going through, her son Austin, her daughter Jessica and her two grandchildren Parker and Vivian. There is a hole in this family that can never be filled.”
Stan Parker was a doer, a giver, a fixer, but he can’t mend all the broken hearts he leaves behind. Some people are just too hard to say goodbye to.
“Stan, we’re going to miss you,” Waller said. “Love you. You were amazing, fixing doors, fixing events, fixing anything. Stan was the guy who fixed it. He was an incredible guy.”
Stan’s funeral will be held tomorrow, September 21st at 10am at Wilkerson Hatch in Waco.
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