Aubrey ""Bud"" Parker

Aubrey ""Bud"" Parker was born on August 13, 1922 in Quay, Oklahoma to Anna Louise (Welton) Parker and William ""Farl"" Parker. He was the middle child in the family. He had an older brother, Ronald, who preceded him in death in the late 1980's. He is survived by his younger sister, Lucille Peverley, of Midland, Texas. Aubrey always preferred the name ""Bud"" which was given to him by his brother who referred to him as ""his little bud"". Bud was raised in Oklahoma and Texas, graduating from Troop Texas High School in May 1941. Bud spent a short time working as a roustabout in the oil fields of Wyoming before enrolling as a freshman at the University of Colorado in Boulder. This time at CU was brief as he was drafted into the U.S. Army as World War II was upon us. He began his basic training in December 1942. He was only in the Army for 7 months before he was given an Honorable Medical Discharge due to recurring pneumonia. Upon his discharge from the Army in July 1943, Bud again began working in the Sinclair oil fields in Wyoming. He soon took advantage of the G.I. Bill and began attending college at the University of Wyoming. It was here that he met Betty Jean Wright who was to become his bride on June 7, 1947. He then graduated with a degree in engineering in May 1948. His contacts with the Sinclair Oil Company (his dad was an employee for many years) enabled him to secure a job at Bairoil, Wyoming. He and Betty lived in various locations in Wyoming for several years and had two daughters while there, Elizabeth (Beth) Ann and Rebecca (Becky) Jean. Bud was transferred to Fort Morgan, Colorado in April 1957 when his youngest daughter, Becky, was only 6 weeks old. It was here that Bud became Superintendent for Sinclair Oil and Gas and resided for the next 9 years. During this time in Fort Morgan, he and Betty were divorced and she and her daughters remained in Fort Morgan where the girls received their elementary and junior high/high school educations. Bud was transferred to various locations throughout the rest of his career. One location was Anchorage, Alaska where he was part of the oil and gas pipeline start up team. He also resided in Bakersfield California, Gillette Wyoming, and Dallas Texas before finally retiring in Denver in 1984. Bud loved the Rocky Mountains and that is where he made his home until his death. He loved his life in Colorado and also loved his family. He is survived by his two daughters, Beth Reece and Becky Rusch, and thought of his sons-in-law, Richard Reece and John Rusch as his own sons. His two grandchildren, Jill Rusch Brownell and Matthew Rusch were a true delight to him. His joy was complete at the birth of his great grandson, Ethan Brownell in December 2011. Anyone who knew Bud was impressed by his quick wit and sense of humor. He often charmed his caregivers (doctors, nurses, dentists) whenever he had an appointment. They often told him that he had made their day because he would always joke with them and bring a smile to their faces. He will truly be missed by all of us. He is survived by his children Beth (Dick) Reece of Littleton, and Becky (John) Rusch of Ft. Morgan. Grandfather of Jill (Craig) Brownell of Sterling and Matt (Chelsea) Rusch of Greeley. Great grandfather of Ethan Brownell. To Bud from Betty: Thank you for the memories of being an oil field wife…like the time I encountered a prairie dog sitting up in my kitchen, the hours of washing clothes using a wringer washer and then draining the water into the tub in the bathroom, being miles from nowhere and having to drive 27 miles to the closest town for groceries, not to mention driving 50 miles to the nearest hospital to await the arrival of a baby girl. All of these memories are unforgettable – THANK YOU! My Dad Reflections by Beth Most everyone who encountered my dad, especially in his later years, walked away thinking what a character he was. Upon meeting a new person, he would often extend his hand and say, ""Snodgrass here, William P."" When parting he would add, ""I am so glad you got to meet me"". Dad had a quick wit and sense of humor which always brought a smile to the face of those he came in contact with. When an answer was an obvious ""Yes"", he would always say, ""Does a mule have a tail?"" When answering the phone, he would try to astound the person on the other end with responses like, ""It's your nickel, start talking,"" or ""You're on the perch start chirping"". When he knew I was on the other end, he would often say, ""Parker Enterprises, head janitor speaking"". He loved to make other people laugh, which became his trademark (along with his brightly colored suspenders) in his later years. He often referred to me as his ""Senior Surveillance Service"" as we spent every Tuesday morning together running errands. In Dad's last 2 week of life at the skilled nursing center, he would say, ""Well, your Senior Surveillance Service is almost over"". This characterized his great attitude as he faced his final journey, letting go of this earthly life and embracing what was ahead. I will never forget the final gift Dad gave me as I watched him courageously face imminent death, express his faith in God by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, and come to total peace with himself and his loving family. The inscription on Dad's marker will read, ""It is Well with My Soul"" and that truly expresses how he departed this world. What a gift to us to know that he is at peace and safely in the arms of God. My Dad Reflections from daughter, Becky: Every Sunday morning at 11:45 was my time with my dad. He would call me like clockwork no matter where he was for almost 50 years. Yes, in the later years he would be gently reminded to call by Beth, or if time got away from him I would call him, but it was our time together. He would always respond to my hello by saying, ""Snodgrass, Edgewater Oil"", and would chuckle. We would discuss the week's events, joke back and forth with the call always ending with, ""I will talk to you next Sunday"". Dad…I will still talk to you every Sunday morning at 11:45, but now it will just be one sided with prayers from me to you. I love you and will miss you always….I will talk to you Sunday. Memories by granddaughter, Jill: I have so many amazing memories of my grandfather (Pa Pa), but my favorite memory isn't from my childhood, it is from my son's. Ethan and Pa Pa have always had a special bond. They could play and chat for hours without a care in the world. A few months ago, my husband, Ethan, and I met with the family for lunch. About 30 minutes into being seated my husband, Craig, moved from his seat between Ethan and Pa Pa because they were so excited to see each other that he felt ""in the way"". They were delighted and continued to play all through the meal. I know that Grandpa's memory will live on forever with us, and especially with his favorite little buddy. Memories by grandson, Matt: I will miss my grandfather very much. I find myself wishing I had talked with him more about his life and experiences, but every time I think of a question that I wish I had asked, I already know what he would have said. One of my favorite things about my grandpa was his predictable series of anecdotes and sayings. If I could speak with him one more time I know he would smile, shake my hand, introduce himself as William P. Snodgrass, and laugh that contagious laugh that I'll never forget. He gave me so much. He gave me an education, my love of golf, and a lifetime of bad jokes that I will never be able to deliver quite the same way that he could; with his ornery grin and loud southern drawl. William P. Snodgrass, you will be missed. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 11, 2014 from 10:30am - 11:30am at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 E. County Line Rd. (One block west of Holly Street). Graveside Service will be at 12:30pm at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area ""B"", 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd. in Denver. Memorials contributions may be made in Bud's honor to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250. Please share your memories of Bud and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook.