William Edward Parker W8DMR

William E. “Bill” Parker age 99, passed away Friday, July 24, 2026, at his home. He was born to the late Edward Shelby and Ellen Nelson Parker on October 8, 1926, in Carnegie, PA. On March 7, 1953, he married Patricia Mounts. Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Robert V. Parker. Bill is survived by wife, Patricia, sons, Edward and Andrea of Baltimore, OH, Douglas of Etna, OH; grandchildren Teena and Michelle of Westerville, OH, Andrew of Columbus, OH; great granddaughter, Margot of Westerville, OH.

Bill’s family moved to Columbus, OH when Bill was 10 years old. After graduating from Central High School (now COSI) he enlisted in the US Navy. He had to wait until October, when he turned 18. Instead of starting at Ohio State University for a few months, he continued to work as an engineer at radio station WHKC (now WTVN) he did during high school.

Bill scored the highest on the “Eddie’ test given to all servicemen and he was sent to school to learn radar and then taught it to pilots.

When bill was 8 years old all he wanted for Christmas was a dry cell battery. His library had only one book on electricity. He took it out so many times his teacher told him he had to learn about other subjects. He was destined to be an engineer.

Bill had many jobs as a boy so he could buy radio parts; paperboy, busboy, golf caddie, and radio engineer until he entered the Navy.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he entered OSU and continued to work at WHKC. After OSU he was employed at Bell Sound Systems in Columbus, OH where he designed the first stereo radio/amplifier. From there he went to North American Rockwell where he and other engineers designed TV guided missiles. He retired from there in 1984.

In 1949 Bill got his Amateur Radio License, W8DMR. He loved the hobby. He helped many people get into the hobby. He always had time to help anyone who needed him, youngsters especially. He loved designing antennas and giving talks to radio clubs and for the Dayton Hamfest. His latest obsession was LED’s (light emitting diodes). He wrote computer programs about how they worked and why white was the last color to be invented.

Bill will be missed by his family and everyone who knew him.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Bill at Gatsby’s 151 N. Hamilton Rd, Gahanna, OH on Sunday, October 11, 2026 2-4 PM to coincide with what would have been his 100th birthday.

Goodbyes are not forever

Goodbyes are not the end

They simply mean I'll miss you

Until we meet again