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Comedy writer called Durango home

Ray Parker dies at 91

If you are older than 40, chances are Raymond Albert Parker has made you laugh at least once. The former Durango resident, newspaperman, comedy writer and engaged citizen died Nov. 8 at his home in Santa Monica, California. He was 91.

Parker’s career in Hollywood as a comedy writer began when he was hired to write for “Art Linkletter’s House Party.” The show’s head writer for 12 years, he also wrote for Dinah Shore, Red Skelton, Dick Van Dyke and from 1968 to 1971, for Bob Hope.

“Bob Hope not only knew what’s funny,” Parker told The Durango Herald columnist Walt Dear in 2003, “but exactly how a gag should be worded. A good joke is put together with the precision of a fine watch.”

Parker finished his comedy career working at Hanna Barbera, retiring in the mid-1980s.

His destiny to work as a wordsmith developed early, his family said.

“Ray’s love for the written word and its comedic expression developed at a young age,” they said. “Whether it was a milk carton or a children’s book, he would immerse himself in words. In his teen years, while his classmates were working on their studies, Ray was in the back of the classroom reading stories in The New Yorker.”

Parker started in the newspaper business as a late-night copy boy at the now-defunct L.A. Examiner. His career was interrupted by the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Parker became a navigator for B-24 “Liberator” bombers with the 8th Air Force flying out of England. On his 10th mission, his bomber was shot down over France. Parker was captured and taken to a prisoner-of-war camp in northern Germany.

During his 14 months as a POW, he continued to serve in the war effort as editor of the POW camp underground newspaper for his 9,000 fellow captive soldiers. Parker recounted the experience in his book Down in Flames, which he wrote during his time in Durango. He also starred in a short documentary “In Times of War,” which won awards in five different film festivals.

“His later years also offered him the time and opportunity to begin to understand and cope with his post-traumatic stress disorder,” his family said. “As a result, Ray became a fierce skeptic of war and a vocal advocate for his fellow veterans. Ultimately, he wanted his experience with PTSD to shed light on how war damages the human experience. He said, ‘Some day, leaders have to learn that war is no longer an option for human beings.’”

He returned to the news business after the war, eventually becoming a reporter on the staff of the Los Angeles Times before starting his career in show business.

After his retirement, Parker and his wife, Ethel, traveled the country in their RV with a variety of misadventures, leading to his first book, RV Having Fun Yet?

They lived in Durango for about 20 years, where he was active in politics, played Scrooge in a performance of “A Christmas Carol” and volunteered for a number of organizations.

“He was warm, witty and charming,” said Bob Chaput, who, with Parker and the late Marv Collentine, founded the Old Geezers coffee group. “I had the pleasure of meeting with him weekly at the Geezers, a conclave of grumpy old men who met to solve the problems of the world.”

Walt Dear on Ray Parker (PDF)

Memorial service

A celebration of life in Durango is being planned.

Raymond Albert Parker is survived by his wife, Ethel Parker, of Santa Monica; children Jeff Parker of Oceanside, California, and Janet Parker of Santa Monica; stepchildren Kathryn Ray Haspel and Brian Ray, both of Santa Monica, and Caroline Ray of Santa Fe; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Friends of the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave., Durango, CO 81301; or www.woundedwarriorproject.org.



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