Charles “Chuck” Marlatt Parker went home to his Lord and Savior on September 2, 2026 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. His children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren gathered for prayer before he passed, and his children were by his side the morning of his passing.

Chuck was born in Umapine, Oregon to William and Nellie Parker on September 30, 1938. He was raised on the Parker family ranch in Ayer Junction, WA and always spoke fondly of his childhood and life on the farm. Chuck graduated from Prescott High School in 1957 and studied at Columbia Basin College, earning his machinist certification in 1959.

In 1961, Chuck was drafted by the US Army to serve overseas in Korea. Near the end of the tour, he received new orders to deploy to Vietnam, where he was needed to establish a machine shop for the repair of equipment and aircraft.

Chuck returned to the United States in 1963 and married his beloved wife Frances on September 24 of that same year at the Hitching Post in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The couple lived in Yakima, West Richland, and finally settled in Kennewick, Washington in 1972, where they raised their five children. Chuck provided for his family as a skilled machinist and was a steadfast friend to his union brothers. At his retirement party from Lampson, his co-workers gifted him a pocket watch inscribed with, “The working man’s friend.”

Throughout his life, Chuck was known as the friend and neighbor who could fix anything. He often spent evenings and weekends helping friends who dropped by his home workshop with a piece of equipment or broken-down car. He was always willing to help and did so because of his kind heart.

Though Chuck took great pride in his profession, farming was his first love. During farm season, he could be spotted on his golf cart checking sprinkler pipes with his faithful pug (Gordo, then Frank) riding next to him. With the help of his sons, Chuck was able to continue to farm and enjoy his land, for the rest of his life.

Chuck dearly loved his family and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved taking the little ones for rides on his tractor, showing them how his equipment worked, and making sure there were golf carts and motorcycles for them to ride, providing endless fun circling and exploring his property.

Chuck was a devoted husband. When Frances became sick 2010, he vowed to always care for her. He kept that promise and was by her side the night she passed away January 14, 2023. His family can now rejoice knowing he is reunited with Frances, his parents, and all his brothers and sisters. Goodbye for now Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, Brother and Uncle. We’ll see you again in heaven.

Chuck was preceded in death by his wife Frances; parents William and Nellie Parker; sisters Bernadine, Mary, Lynette, and Wilma; and brothers Bill and John.

Chuck is survived by his children Todd Parker (Sylvia), Laura Peres (Mark), Linda Deal (Jeff), Craig Parker (Rachell), and John Parker (Leslie); brother Cleve Parker; grandchildren Scott, Kaylynn, Jeff, Brendon, Russ, Renee, Shelby, Taylor, Charlie, Macie, Breann, and Bailee; and great-grandchildren Chase, Brody, Elsie, Emmi, Larry, Henry, Miles, Makena, Merrick, Adaline, Gunner, Kasen, Brynlee, and Lane.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Chuck’s name to the Parkinson’s Foundation at The Parkinson's Foundation.

A service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on September 18, 2026, at Mueller’s Life Tributes, 314 West 1st Avenue, Kennewick, WA. A celebration of life will immediately follow at the same location. Graveside services will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Milton-Freewater I.O.O.F. Cemetery.