John Thomas "Tom" Parker, 88, of Butler died Nov. 20 at his home.

Born July 11, 1917, in Butler, he was a son of Warren Raymond and Elizabeth M. Connell Parker.

As a youth, he worked on his family's oil well in the Chicora area. He loved telling of his adventures hopping trains and traveling to appease his inquisitive mind.

He served in the Army from 1935 to 1937 and was stationed in Pearl Harbor as a secretary for the then Col. George Patton. He returned to Butler and worked in the Montgomery Wards service department.

Early in World War II, he traveled to Long Beach, Calif., with his wife and daughter and worked in the shipyards repairing control wiring for the gunnery controls on damaged warships.

After returning to Butler in 1947, he started Parker Appliance Co. and serviced businesses in the Butler area. He was involved in many developments of products in the heating and air-conditioning industry, such as the electronic air cleaner, where the first large-scale installation was at the Empire State Building. He closed his company in 1968 and went to work in the Butler Memorial Hospital Maintenance Department, where he oversaw renovations to the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning construction.

Mr. Parker loved traveling with his wife in the United States and to England to research his family history. He was well read in the sciences and history and studied astrology for years.

After retiring from Butler Memorial in 1985, he was a volunteer at the Butler Public Library for years along with his long-time friend, Clair Oliphant.

His wife, Beatrice "Beachy" (Doll) Gamble Parker, whom he married June 5, 1940, died Sept. 24, 2005. His devotion to his wife and family will always be admired and missed.

Surviving are two daughters, Judith A. Parker of Butler and Nancy J. Zellman and her husband, Steven Zellman, of Indiana, Pa.; three sons, Thomas W. Parker and his wife, Melanie, of Condon, Mont., Laurence. T. Parker and his wife, Dixie, of Port Angeles, Wash., and John T. Parker II of Butler; and his caregiver, Margaret Henricks of Evans City.

Also surviving are 13 grandchildren, including Mark, Darren, Kyra, Lisa, Casey, Kellie, Justin, Jordan, Alex and Logan; and 12 great-grandchildren, including Ryan, Matthew, Travis, Tyler, Levi, Taylor, Christopher, Jacob and Madison; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A sister, Mary Mack, preceded him in death.

PARKER - Visitation and services for John Thomas Parker, who died Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005, were private at the GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association Hospice Program, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001; or to the Butler Public Library, 218 N. McKean St., Butler, PA 16001.Please visit the funeral home Web site at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.