Obituary of Ellen Marie Parker

Ellen Marie (Walker) Parker, wife of Eben Parker, passed on peacefully with her husband by her side on October 25, 2024.  

Ellen was born March 3, 1942, in Rahway NJ to Marie (Langer) Walker and George Walker.  She grew up in Manville NJ while her father built his business, Somerset Airport.  She later moved to Bedminster and attended Bernards High School, where she was a cheerleader and graduated in 1960.  In December of that year she married 2Lt Eben H. Parker, USAF originally of Plainfield NJ.

The couple traveled to Texas, where the Air Force sent Eben to pilot training before they settled at McGuire AFB in New Jersey.  In the spring of 1962, Ellen was selected to participate in the television game show, “Window Shopping” where she became a top prize winner in the short tenure of the show.  In December of 1963 she gave birth to her first child, Steven.  Later the Air Force moved them to Griffiss AFB NY where Ellen gave birth to their daughter, Sally Ann, in August 1966.  By 1969, they returned to New Jersey settling in Hillsborough.  A devoted mother, Ellen was a Girl Scout leader, and Cub Scout Den Mother.

In 1978 the Parkers moved to the home of her dreams in Lebanon Township, and Ellen became an aide at Voorhees High School.  She later returned to her family’s business, and became the bookkeeper at Somerset Airport, taking her mother’s role in the company.  With her younger brother, G. Daniel Walker, she continued to help the business flourish as Vice President and was instrumental in transitioning the business to the next generation, her nephew Chris Walker and son Steven.

In her later years, she loved to travel with Eben, work in her garden, and enjoyed all sorts of crafts.  She was an avid seamstress, skilled at needlepoint, quilling and every Christmas made ornate decorations and baked many holiday cookies.  She was our family historian, keeping alive our Scottish and American Revolutionary War heritage.  A wonderful grandmother, she was actively involved with all her grandchildren and a fixture in the stands cheering on all their many sporting events and shows.

Ellen was predeceased by her parents, George and Marie Walker, her aunt, Alice Bader, and brother, G. Daniel Walker.  She leaves behind her devoted husband of nearly 64 years, Eben, daughter and son-in-law Sally and Chris Perini of Creedmoor NC, and son and daughter-in-law Caitlyn and Steven Parker.  Five grandchildren also survive her:  Staff Sergeant Benjamin Perini, USAF, Trinity Perini, 2LT Cathleen Parker, USA, Margaret “Molly” Parker, and Erin Parker.

Most recently she had been a resident of the Little Brook Home near Califon NJ where she enjoyed outstanding care. 

Memorial Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 15th from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM with a service of remembrance beginning at 2:00 PM. All services will be held at Martin Funeral Home, located at 1761 Route 31, Clinton NJ. (www.martinfh.com)

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Red Cross.  Her final resting place will be with her parents in the Somerset Hills (Cemetery) Memorial Park in Bernards Township NJ.