Pauline W. Parker, age 93, a resident of Carol Stream, Illinois, died Monday, April 23, at Johnson Health Care Center in Carol Stream.
Born in Pasco, Washington, on September 19, 1918, to Stewart V. Winslow and Martha Read, Pauline grew up in Washington state and Portland, Oregon. Her father was a well-known and respected river captain on the Columbia River during the early 1900s. Pauline was an adventurous child and had clear memories of riding on her father's stern wheel river boat as a little girl, and disembarking after one such day trip to see several schoolmates gawking at her in astonishment, wondering how it was that their classmate was aboard such a vessel and knew the captain.
A devout Christian, Pauline graduated from Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, in the late 1940s with a BA, then worked for a time in Chicago with Child Evangelism before returning to Oregon to work in the Bend public schools. In the early 1950s she met Paul E. Parker, a young physician, in Portland, and in 1952 they were married there at her parents' house. They lived in North Bend and Coos Bay, Oregon, until 1962, during which time they were involved with Young Life Camps, and had two sons and a daughter, Steve, Dave and Elizabeth. In 1962 the family moved to Wheaton, Illinois. Pauline and Paul were long-time members of Wheaton Bible Church, and Paul became a well-known and beloved physician in the Wheaton and Glen Ellyn area. During this time Pauline led numerous Bible studies for friends and acquaintances, and was closely involved with support for missions. In 1987 Paul and Pauline moved to Windsor Park Manor, where they continued to enjoy their friends and growing family of in-laws and grandchildren. Paul passed away in 2002, and Pauline moved into a smaller apartment at Windsor, where she remained until admitted to Johnson Health Care Center in late 2009 because of declining health.
Pauline was preceded in death by her husband of more than 50 years, Dr. Paul E. Parker Jr., their daughter Elizabeth Parker, and her parents Stewart and Martha Winslow.
Pauline is survived by a sister, Marjorie Good of Cathlamet, Washington; sons, Steve (Jean Ann) Parker of Wheaton, and Dave (Cathy) Parker of South Bend, Indiana; a niece, Theodora (Don) Powers of Newberg, Oregon; and grandchildren Dylan Parker, Lindsey (Brian) Bennett, Joel Parker and Seth Parker.
A private burial service will be held at Wheaton Cemetery the morning of Saturday, April 28, followed by a memorial service for family and friends the same day at 2:00 P.M. at Windsor Park Manor, 124 Windsor Park Drive, Carol Stream, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Greater Europe Mission, 18950 Camp Base Road, Monument Colorado, 80132.
Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.