Carroll Edwin (Butch) Parker passed away at Arden Courts in Pikesville from complications of Alzheimer’s on June 18, 2020.
Carroll was born on June 11, 1942 to parents Lester and Nora Parker. He was named after his Uncle Carroll who had passed away and his Uncle Ray nicknamed him Butch. He attended Randallstown Elementary, Milford Mill Jr-Sr High, and then Towson State Teachers College. He graduated in 1960 with a teaching degree and a concentration in Science. He received his Master’s degree from Western Maryland College in 1978.
Carroll taught Science at Ridgely Junior High School for four years and then he transferred to Cockeysville Jr. High as Science Department head were Polk Roberts was principal. Carroll was moved to Parkville High School as an Assistant Principal for four years. Although, he made long lasting friends at Parkville, he always considered high school a sojourn and wanted to get back to the junior high school age student. In 1979, he went back to Ridgely as Principal. The middle school concept was just being introduced in Baltimore County. Ridgely was a Middle School and he did much to promote the concept of teaching the middle school student and nurturing them as they entered those critical years of development. Carroll worked with many principals in the County to help them develop true middle schools. He loved being out in the hallways and in classrooms and interacting with students. In 1987, he asked to be moved to Franklin Middle School in his home neighborhood. He felt he could move Franklin further into the true middle school mold. He enjoyed working in his home area and meeting parents in the grocery store and out in public. He often quipped that he had more face time informally with parents than he did at formal conferences. He retired from the county after 30 years of service. An award in his honor is still given out to an outstanding Science student at the Franklin Middle School graduation ceremony.
After retiring from Baltimore county, a friend asked him to come to Maryvale Preparatory School to finish out the year teaching science for a teacher going out on maternity leave. He agreed and loved it so much that he stayed another seven years teaching science to the middle school girls. He and his son, Chris, installed sinks in the middle school science rooms during that first summer so the science classes could have labs. Before leaving Maryvalle, he used his experience from working in Baltimore County to help design the labs for the school’s new science rooms.
Carroll married Carol Eichler in 1966 and they had two sons, Christopher and Timothy. He enjoyed coaching his sons in recreation basketball and baseball and was active in the community. He was honored as Grand Marshall for the Reisterstown Festival Parade during his second year at Franklin. Carroll was a life-long member of Ward’s Chapel UMC on Liberty Road where he grew up. He held many offices in the church, taught Sunday school, was Lay Leader, sang in the choir, preached when needed, and was chair of the Church Council for over 30 years. Whatever needed doing, he was there to help.
Carroll enjoyed fishing, bow hunting, golfing, watching Orioles games and skiing with his family. His neighbors remember him as an outdoorsman who enjoyed clearing the snow off their driveways and sharing vegetables from his garden.
In 2016 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease which robbed his family of their loved one. Although, he wasn’t always sure who they were, he always enjoyed their daily visits.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife, son Chris and wife, Barbara, son Tim and wife, Elizabeth and grandchildren Julia, Katherine, and Matthew. Family was very important to “Pop” and he is greatly missed.
A graveside service will be held for the family. A Celebration of Life will take place on June 11, 2021 (his birthday) at Ward’s Chapel Church.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to: Alzheimer’s Association, 1850 York Road Suite D, Timonium, MD 21092-5122 or Ward’s Chapel UM Church, 11023 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133.