Barbara Ruth Parker
Barbara Parker, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 94 at her home. She was born July 10, 1932 in Mountain View, Okla., to loving parents, Verda (McDaniel) and Amon Bond. After graduating from Goodland High School, Barbara attended South Eastern College in Durant where she studied elementary education and was voted as one of the Top Ten Prettiest Women on campus. Barbara spent her 21st birthday in Long Beach, Calif., representing Oklahoma in the Miss Universe Pageant.
When Barbara was 26, she met Bill Parker. When he first saw her walking down the street in Hugo, he told his friends, “I’m going to marry that girl.” And he did. Their first date was April 15, they were married Aug. 1 and they celebrated 67 years together.
Barbara was the youngest of a loving family of five daughters. Bill and Barbara were blessed with three daughters: Teri, Julie and Susan. Together, they moved often with Bill coaching football from Idabel, to Oklahoma City, Ringling, Ardmore, West Lafayette, Indiana (the coldest Barbara had ever been in her life), Orange, Texas, Frederick, Okla., and back to Ardmore where Bill ultimately retired as Head Coach and Athletic Director before starting his successful New York Life career. Barbara was his number one fan and biggest cheerleader. She worked as a librarian at Charles Evans Elementary; however, her most important job was loving and caring for her family. Her love was extended to each member and was never exhausted. When asked how Barbara would like to be remembered, she quickly replied, “Good wife, good mother, good GB (Granny Barb) and a good friend.”
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Verda and Amon Bond; her sisters: Lillie May Ross, Thelma Chronic, Esther Swan and her husband, Bill Parker. She is survived by her daughters: Teri Hubbard and her husband, Jeff; their four children: Parker, Spencer and his wife, Courtney Hubbard, Emily and her husband, Bryan Decan, Addison and her husband, Coby Brownrigg; her daughter, Julie Todd and her husband, Kent; her daughter, Susan Pettit and her husband, Brody and their children: Ellie Pettit, Levi Pettit and his wife, Haley, and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her last living sister, Faye Cannon, who held a special place in her heart; her brother-in-law, Tom Parker; and two sisters-in-law: Janice Parker and Charlene Parker. Barbara was proud to be married to Bill. Her hobbies included decorating, antiquing and cooking. She was creative. She was fashionable. She was lovely. She was smart. She had a great style her entire life. She was a lady in all senses of the word. They loved living in Ardmore, especially their time with friends at Fellowship Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church. They enjoyed dancing, traveling, and their “family time” vacations at Bella Vista, Ark.
Barbara showed us all the meaning of “for Better or for Worse” after lovingly caring for Bill for nine years with Alzheimer’s at their home. We would like to thank her compassionate caregivers, Cross Timbers Hospice, and Ideal Home Health here in Ardmore.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to The Alzheimer’s Association, Cross Timbers Hospice and The Goddard Center in Ardmore.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 at Ardmore First Methodist Church, under the direction of Craddock Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, with a graveside service at 3 p.m.
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