Richard Alan Parker

Richard (Dick) Alan Parker of Moscow, Idaho passed away on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at the age of 91.

Dick was born in 1931 in Milwaukee, WI to Romana and Wayne Parker.  He had two younger sisters, Joan and Nancy.  His father explored the outdoors with Dick (hunting, canoeing, building a small cabin) and his mother encouraged him to excel scholastically.  Dick studied hard in school, especially enjoying the sciences, and also played football for five years and boxed for two years.  He graduated valedictorian from Messmer High School in Milwaukee, WI in 1949.

With his interests in forestry and wildlife, Dick studied at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee before attending a Summer Forestry Field Camp at Colorado State College and transferring to Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, UT.  There he met Theda Hull, his wife-to-be and life-long companion.  They both finished Bachelor of Science degrees, his in Wildlife Management and hers in Nursing in 1953.  After receiving research awards, Dick completed a Master’s of Science in Botany and Zoology in 1954 and a PhD in Zoology with a minor in Mathematical Statistics in 1956, both at the University of Wisconsin Madison.  In September 1956, Dick began a faculty position teaching and doing research at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, WA where he specialized in mathematical modeling and systems ecology of freshwater lakes.  He enjoyed sabbatical leaves to Oxford, UK (1968), Christchurch, NZ (1976, 1990), Liege, BE and Corsica, FR (1980), and Plymouth, UK (1983).  He retired from WSU in 1995 as Professor of Zoology and Computer Science.

More important than anything else was his love for family.  Dick met Theda at the roller skating rink in Logan, UT.  They were engaged in June 1953 in Zion National Park and married in Milwaukee, WI in September 1953.  Dick and Theda raised seven children, the first two born in Madison, WI and the next five born in Pullman, WA.  Dick built the family house on 70 acres north of Moscow, ID in 1959. He began building the family cabin at Kootenay Lake in British Columbia in 1964. Family picnics, camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting with Dad, instilled a love of nature in all of his children.  After retirement, Dick and Theda traveled extensively around Europe, and also visited Africa, Central America, and South America.  Their fondest travels were to Austria, where they felt at home. They loved the culture, the food, the music, hiking the hills, and making friends during their repeated visits to favorite small alpine villages. Thanks to Dick’s encouragement and support, his children also share his love for travel.

Over the years, Dick and Theda enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing, golf, and driving on back country roads. Dick liked the challenge of repairing and maintaining vehicles, and every winter he looked forward to plowing snow with his 14,000-pound bulldozer.

Dick leaves behind Theda, his best friend and beloved wife of 69 years, and his seven children: Kathy Parker (Mike Gillingham) of Prince George, BC, Gina Young (Sam) of Moscow, ID, Doug Parker (Raydene) of Corvallis, MT, Steve Parker (Deb) of Issaquah, WA, Sharon Hendricks (Mark) of Shelton, WA, Linda Bushy (Mike) of Cashmere, WA, and Greg Parker (Keri) of Orofino, ID.  He is also survived by his sister Joan, 16 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren.