Obituary of James Lawson Parker

James (Sam) Lawson Parker of Roanoke Virginia passed away peacefully at home on Thursday evening, August 19 2021. He was 96 years old.

Sam was born in Mullins, West Virginia but was raised on a small farm in Troutville, Virginia. He attended grade and high school in Troutville. He left high school in his senior year and joined the Navy where he was an airplane mechanic serving from June 1943 to October 1945. Once his training was complete he was assigned to a Navy aviator base in Ottumwa Iowa where he helped maintain trainer aircraft for aviators training to land on Aircraft carriers. After the war he returned to Roanoke and started working for the US Post Office in downtown Roanoke. He was a letter carrier for 32 years carrying mail to various parts of the Roanoke valley and making many friends along the way. While working in Roanoke he met and married Betty Jane Wall (deceased in 1986) in February 1952 at Natural Bridge.  He lived in Roanoke area his whole life.  He  is survived by his four children, Patricia , Jim, Michael, and Stephen and a very special friend Dave Bowers of Salem Virginia. 

During his lifetime he had many hobbies which included enjoyed singing in the Church choir at North View Methodist church and  with the Roanoke Valley Barber Shop Cardinal chorus. He also loved playing guitar and mandolin and singing country and bluegrass music with many friends. He was an assistant scout master of Boy Scout troop 216 and a member of The Order of the Arrow, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golfing with family and friends. He loved playing card games and checkers and  won most of the time. 

A celebration of his life ceremony will be announced at a later date and all his friends will be notified.