William David “David” Parker, 78, passed away on February 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was born January 13, 1948, in Decatur, Illinois, to John Wilson Parker II and Ruth Alice Foulke.

His family relocated to Stock Island in Key West, Florida, in 1950, where he spent his childhood. He attended Key West High School and married Julia Christine Williams in 1967 while attending the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. They had two children, David John Parker and Christine Michelle Parker.

Following his divorce from Julia, David made North Carolina his home for much of his adult life, including time in and near Boone during his second marriage to Audrey Mike Parker. He later lived within the Navajo Nation at T’saile and in Flagstaff, Arizona before moving to Flemington, New Jersey, where he cared for his mother and worked supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities until retirement. He and Audrey Mike Parker later divorced. He then relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina to be near his daughter’s family and remained for the rest of his life.

David was a lifelong learner with a deep curiosity about history, politics, and the world. He loved reading, documentaries, and conversation, and was known for his strong perspective, storytelling, and memorable laugh.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John Wilson “Jerry” Parker III; and his sister, Sally Joan Spellman.

He is survived by his son, David John Parker; his daughter, Christine Parker Vandiver; his grandchildren, William McCall Parker, Corey Vandiver, and Emma Vandiver; his sister, Susan Graf; and his nephews, Walter Cadmus Jr. and Jeremy Cadmus.

The family chose aquamation through Renaissance Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held Friday, March 13, 2026, at 1pm at Wakefield Manor, 10710 Nickleby Way in Raleigh. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Save the Children (savechildren.org) or WUNC Public Radio (wunc.org), organizations he personally supported.

He will be remembered in different ways by those who knew him, and his story remains part of theirs.