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Henry “Hank” W. Parker, 89, of Bluffton, SC died on February 19, 2022, at Palmettos Memory Care from natural causes. Hank lived most of his life in Rochester (Fairport), NY. From 1998-2018, he spent his winters in Hilton Head, SC and his summers along the Saint Lawrence River in Clayton, NY. In 2018, he moved into Palmettos of Bluffton Assisted Living and became a year-round resident of South Carolina.
Hank briefly attended Syracuse University and then served in Marine Corps from 1954-1957. He graduated from Cornell University in 1959 with a degree in Economics and was a member of Theta Xi fraternity. His Cornell legacy is remembered by the Henry and Ruth Anne Parker Scholarship that provides an annual grant to students.
In 1960, Hank married Ruth Anne Williams at Brighton Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY.
Hank started his professional career at Harrison Radiator in Lockport, NY and then relocated to Rochester, NY to work for Carhart Photo. In 1970, he opened Taylor Rental Center in Fairport, NY. The family business became Hank Parker’s Rental Center in 1984. Throughout his career he was a leader in the local business community. Hank was an active member of the American Rental Association (ARA) both on a regional and national level and went on to serve as President of the International ARA in 1992. He retired from the business in 1994.
He was actively engaged in several community organizations including Boy Scouts, Perinton Recreation Football, Fairport High School Booster Club, his local churches, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary in SC. For 20 years, he volunteered at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY and was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in 2015. In 2006 he co-founded Moss Creek Marines in SC. In his spare time, he enjoyed family gatherings, traveling, boating, fishing, gardening, and attending his children’s sporting events.
Since Hank spent his time in both SC and NY, there will be two services to celebrate his life:
Saturday, March 26th, 10am at Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, 10 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton, SC 29910. Live streaming will be available.
Saturday, April 9th, 10am at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 26 East Church Street, Fairport, NY 14450
The family would like to thank the exceptional staff at Palmettos of Bluffton Assisted Living and Memory Care and Caris Hospice for their compassionate care to Hank, especially over the past several months.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donation to a charity of your choice, or one of the following organizations: Lowcountry Presbyterian Church (at address above or https://www.lowcountrypres.org/give) or Moss Creek Marines (Alan Calderon, MCM Commanding Officer, 5 Indigo Court, HHI, SC 29926 or www.mosscreekmarines.com)