Wilbur L. Parker

Wilbur Leon Parker, 96, of Franklin, NH died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes in the early morning of December 18, 2022 at the Golden Crest assisted living facility with his two daughters at his side. He was born in Lyman, Maine in 1926 to Leon and Gladys Parker, one of nine children. He went by the nickname Cody for most of his adult life although his siblings always called him Whoop due to his love for eating whoopie pies while growing up in East Waterboro, Maine.

Cody was a WWII veteran and served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1947. Following his service to our country, he became an ironworker in 1949. He initially worked steel out West (where his buddies gave him the nickname Cody) before moving back to New England and joining the Iron Workers Union Local No. 474, Manchester, NH.  Notable construction projects he worked on include the Samuel C. Moore Dam on the Upper Connecticut River near Littleton, NH, the largest conventional hydroelectric dam in New England; the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant in Seabrook, NH; and transmission tower construction on top of famous Mount Washington. Cody also worked on untold numbers of bridge construction and other structural projects during his nearly 40 years as an ironworker. He was a proud union ironworker until his retirement in 1988. 

It was during his time working on the Moore Dam in 1956 that Cody met and fell in love with his future wife, Elaine from St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Together they lived in St. Johnsbury for 43 years and raised a family. Over those years, Cody traveled back and forth to construction sites in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine for work, putting in thousands of miles on the road to support his family. Following retirement, Cody and Elaine traveled the country in their RV each year for 20 years, planning their trips around bowling tournaments and visits to see their grandchildren. To be closer to family, Cody and Elaine moved from St. Johnsbury to a retirement community in Rochester, NH in the early 2000’s where they made many new friends. Cody was known for his good-natured teasing and he really enjoyed bantering back and forth with people and making them laugh. He loved playing pool, shuffleboard, and cribbage with his buddies at the clubhouse. He was an excellent bowler in his younger years and even bowled 300 once or twice. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Cody was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Elaine; son James; son Wilbur Jr; brothers Bill, Eddie, and Raymond; and sisters Lillian, Evelyn, and Leone. He is survived by two brothers, James “Buster” and Everett; daughters Susan (David) and Pamela (Mike); 10 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. 

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the wonderful staff at Cornerstone VNA in Rochester, NH and at the Golden Crest assisted living facility in Franklin, NH for the outstanding care and support they provided to Cody over the past several years. 

A small celebration of life ceremony will be held at the Golden Crest assisted living facility in Franklin, attended by family, close friends, and fellow residents.  A private cremation burial service will be held by the family at a later date.