George J. Parker

George J. Parker, 73, of Shelbyville passed away Friday, December 19, 2008 at Select Specialty Hospital in Greenwood. Born June 19, 1935 in Meadow Bridge, West Virginia, he was the son of Cecil and Sadie Mae (Vandall) Parker. On September 2, 1961 he married Erma C. Matney, and she survives. Other survivors include his mother of Meadow Bridge, West Virginia; son, George "Randy" Parker of Indianapolis; daughters, Sharon Jones of Clewiston, Florida and Michelle (husband, Kevin) Nauert of Indianapolis; brothers, Gene, Danny and Denville; sisters, Rosetta, Eva, Patricia, Darlene, Donna and Judy; grandchildren, Wade, Melissa, Richard, Tabitha, Justin, Joshua and Jennifer and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, three brothers and one sister. Mr. Parker was a salesman for G. W. Berkheimer Company in Portage, Indiana at their Indianapolis office for 28 years, retiring in 1997. He was in the Army Reserve. Mr. Parker was an avid sports fan at all levels--high school, college and professional. He was a referee for the IHSAA and coached softball from 1974 to 1982. He also enjoyed playing pinball and cards, shooting pool and gardening. He was a graduate of Meadow Bridge High School in 1953. Mr. Parker attended the Church of Christ. Visitation will be Monday, December 22, 2008 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Freeman Family Funeral Homes, Carmony-Ewing Harrison Street Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2400 E. 17th Street, Columbus, IN 47201; American Diabetes Association, Post Office Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038-1132;or Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attn: Gift Management Services, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244.