Sandusky doctor worked with family
1/24/2004SANDUSKY - Watson Day Parker, Sr., a family doctor here for about 40 years, died Saturday in Firelands Regional Medical Center. He was 92.
The family did not know the cause of death. He had pneumonia, his daughter-in-law, Paula Parker, said.
Dr. Parker practiced medicine with his father, James D. Parker, and his brother, Lester G. Parker.
He was also on the staff at the former Good Samaritan Hospital, now part of Firelands Regional Medical Center, and served as chief of staff there.
“He liked delivering babies. He liked taking care of people,” Mrs. Parker said.
At first, the family ran its practice out of an office in their home. They made many house calls, Mrs. Parker said.
Dr. Parker told stories about going with his father on home visits in a horse and buggy, his granddaughter, Kristin Payne, said.
Dr. Parker and his brother joined their father s practice when they returned from Navy service in World War II.
“It was very interesting when the boys first came back,” said Florence Parker, Lester Parker s widow.
Their father liked to show them that he knew a lot more than they did, she said.
“In a loving way, he had to let them know who was the boss,” she said.
As their father got older, the brothers took over the practice.
Dr. Parker was very dedicated, Paula Parker said.
“He left dinner many times to go out and do something,” she said.
The mother of one former patient remembered that he had walked over to her house in miserable weather to see to her ill son, Florence Parker said.
Dr. Parker retired in 1987. He continued to practice medicine as a staff physician at the New Departure plant here, his daughter-in-law said.
Dr. Parker was born here on Dec. 30, 1911. He graduated from Sandusky High School in 1929 and from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1933.
He graduated from Ohio State University Medical College in 1937 and completed a residency at Toledo Hospital.
During World War II, he served in the Navy Medical Corps, stationed in England and on a ship in the Atlantic, Paula Parker said.
He was ultimately stationed in Germany.
He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Erie County Medical Society, and Trinity United Methodist Church here.
He enjoyed swimming and skeet shooting, Paula Parker said.
Surviving are two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. today in the church. The Quick-Park and Pfeil Funeral Home here handled the arrangements.
The family suggests tributes to the church, the Watson D. Parker, Jr., M.D. Memorial Scholarship Fund at Wright State University, or a charity of the donor s choice.